Eight clubs in battle to reach FA Trophy semifinals
• FlorianaBirkirkara is the top clash • HiberniansHamrun could be a close affair • Balzan, Valletta firm favourites to reach last 4
Eight clubs will be battling for a place in the semifinals of the competition.
The quarterfinals are, in fact, scheduled to be played between today and tomorrow.
Today at the Hibernians Stadium, it will be Balzan-Pieta and Valletta-Gudja, while tomorrow, at the National Stadium it will be Hibernians-Hamrun and Floriana-Birkirkara.
Holders Balzan and last year’s beaten finalists Valletta should be considered firm favourites to reach the Last 4, considering that their opponents do not live in the same street, at least on paper.
But in the other two matches, it is difficult to consider any team favourite.
The top clash should be the Floriana-Birkirkara encounter.
The Greens are back on track having defeat bottom club Tarxien 4-0 last weekend, after having won just one point in their previous three matches.
During that bleak period, the Greens saw their arch rivals and defending champions Valletta join them at the top of the table as they bridged the gap between the two clubs.
Today’s match against Birkirkara will certainly pose some problems for the Greens, as the Stripes are on a sevengame unbeaten run in the League during which they obtained 17 points from a possible 21 – a very impressive run indeed.
Birkirkara are certainly the team of the moment having beaten three of the top guns in Maltese football at present – Floriana, Valletta and Hibernians – since the start of the second round.
The positive run they are enjoying has enabled the club to move up the standings rapidly from near the relegation zone to 6th place where they are now in a challenging position for an Europa League berth next season.
The Hibernians-Hamrun clash should also be a close affair as I am sure the two teams will be aiming for a berth in the Last 4.
The two teams suffered defeats in their last Premier League matches.
The Paolites were defeated by Birkirkara 2-1, while Hamrun went down with the same scoreline against Mosta.
Although Balzan and Valletta can be considered firm favourites to advance, neither team can take their opponents for granted.
This is a Cup competition and therefore any team will be going out for a win, despite the fact that both Balzan and Valletta have much more guns to outpower their opponents.
The holders, Balzan, will be facing first division side Pieta and should have no problems in disposing of the Hotspurs to reach the last 4, thus continuing their defence of last year’s win.
Last year’s beaten finalists Valletta will be facing ‘inferior’ opponents in the sense that Gudja are occupying a place in the lower section of the Premier League standings.
However, Valletta are aware that they cannot ignore the Gudja threat. Earlier this season, they were twice humbled by Santa Lucia – a 3-2 defeat and a 2-2 draw.
And Gudja can prove to be tough opponents if they are at their best.
Today Hibernians Stadium
FA Trophy quarterfinals 2pm Balzan-Pieta H. 4.15pm Valletta-Gudja
Victor Tedesco Stadium
Bank of Valletta first division 2pm Mqabba-Fgura
4.15pm Lija Ath.-St George’s
Luxol Stadium
Bank of Valletta second division 2pm Melita-San Gwann 4.15pm Mgarr U.-Zabbar SP
Dingli Ground
Women’s Under 15 league 1pm Kirkop-Raiders
1pm Swieqi-Mosta
2.30pm Mgarr-Mtarfa 2.30pm Zebbug R.-Birkirkara
Basketball
Ta’ Qali pavilion
Bank of Valletta Men’s KO 4.30pm semifinal 2
Waterpolo Tal-Qroqq Pool
Enemed Cup 2020 (matchday 3) 3pm Sirens Greentube-Neptunes Leo Vegas
10.45am Exiles Elia CaterersM’Scala Fish & Fish
5.30pm Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate-San Giljan TUM Invest
Handball
University Sports Hall
Women’s first division
3.30pm 2nd placed-3rd placed 5pm 1st placed-4th placed
Tomorrow National Stadium
FA Trophy quarterfinals 2pm Hibernians-Hamrun S. 4.15pm Floriana-Birkirkara
Centenary Stadium
Bank of Valletta first division 11am Pembroke-Zejtun 1.15pm Qormi-Naxxar L. 3.30pm Qrendi-Swieqi
Victor Tedesco Stadium
Bank of Valletta second division 11am Kalkara-Luqa SA
1.15pm Mellieha-Marsaxlokk 3.30pm Xghajra T.-B’Buga SP
Basketball
Ta’ Qali pavilion
Bank of Valletta Men’s KO 12.45pm semifinal 1
MAPFRE MSV league
11am ARMS Depiro-Hibernians 2.30pm Luxol-Starlites GiG
Life
women’s
Photo: Domenic Aquilina