FA Trophy: Valletta 1 Birkirkara 3
05/03/2025
Italian defender Alessandro Coppola was the chief architect behind Birkirkara’s passage to the FA Trophy semi-final.
The towering defender hit a screamer in extra-time to break Valletta’s hearts and push his team on their way to the last four before Paul Mbong wrapped up the win with a third goal.
Valletta, the Challenge League winners, regarded as underdogs, delivered an indefatigable showing to frustrate Birkirkara.
They went ahead after 70 minutes and refused to wilt amid Birkirkara’s chaotic efforts to translate their technical superiority into clear-cut openings.
But in the end, Birkirkara’s depth in their squad made all the difference as they managed to turn the match in their favour.
The re-appearance of the Birkirkara-Valletta fixture on the local football agenda, albeit in the FA Trophy was embraced with a glee by their supporters who turned out in big numbers at the National Stadium.
Valletta started brightly and Sheldon Mackay’s cross was deflected off Tomislav Papazov and into the path of Andrei Ciolacu but his scissor-kick went off the far post.
Birkirkara had a narrow escape three minutes later when Jake Azzopardi sent the Romanian striker clear in a dangerous position in the area. Ciolacu hit the ball behind Matthew Grech but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.
Brandon Paiber then tested Grech from freekick as Valletta were marginally the better side in a balanced first half.
The Lilywhites came out strongly in the second half, putting their opponents under increasing pressure.
And Thane Micallef’s side deservedly broke the deadlock after 70 minutes.
Mackay was involved in the opener after escaping down the right. He drilled in a cross which Nathan Cross erroneously headed back in the direction of Jefferson who drilled the ball past Grech.
But Birkirkara hit back, with Manuel Morello causing problems for Mackay on the left flank and Lautaro Lacunza heading home at the far post.
The game was opening up and Paiber came close to putting Valletta ahead for a second time but his freekick was pushed by Grech over the bar.
In the end, though, neither side could break the deadlock and the game went into extra time.
Birkirkara started brighter and six minutes later grabbed the crucial goal.
Substitute Shaun Dimech directed his corner into the direction of Lacunza who tangled in for the ball with Andrea Zammit, with the ball running to the unmarked Coppola.
The towering defender let fly a swerving shot from 25 metres that flew past the helpless Timothy Aquilina.
To rub salt in Valletta wounds, Enzo Ruiz was given his marching orders after picking a second yellow card for dissent.
Birkirkara continued to dominate the extra period and eight minutes from time Paul Mbong intercepted a poor back pass by Mackay to seal the issue.
Birkirkara will now meet Floriana in the semi-final of the FA Trophy.
Source: Times of Malta
VALLETTA: T. Aquilina, E. Mushagalusa (K. Ewurum), N. Micallef, Z. Cassar, E. Ruiz, A. Ciolacu, B. Paiber, J. Azzopardi (A. Attard), Jefferson, S. Mackay , J. Scicluna (A. Zammit).
BIRKIRKARA: M. Grech, M. Morello, P. Gaitan (70 S. Dimech), Lecao (70 Y. Gnamien), P. Mbong, T. Papazov (116 A. Sandona), L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, A. Coppola, D. Makoma, M. Maia (58 N. Cross).
Scorers: 68′ J. Ferreira (V), 96′ A. Coppola, 113′ P. Mbong, 76′ L. Lacunza (B).
Yellow cards: E. Ruiz (V), P. Gaitan, P. Mbong, A. Coppola (B)
Red card: E. Ruiz (V).
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
