Late extra-time goal sends Valletta to U*BET FA Trophy final

Tarxien Rainbows 0
Valletta 1

 Tarxien Rainbows had had no chance to score the equaliser as Valletta protected their precious lead.

The match was very balanced with Valletta and Tarxien sharing ball possession and both having very good chances to score by hitting the posts.

31 minutes into the first half, Valletta’s Denni Rocha Dos Santos dribbled past two Tarxien players to have his shot hit the post.

The second half was very quiet on both sides of the pitch. But as the match was nearing its end, both teams were very close to scoring the first goal of the match.

Valletta were denied by the woodwork again when substitute Terence Scerri’s attempt hit the foot of the post just ten minutes from time. Tarxien Rainbows were as well unlucky when Daniel Mariano Bueno’s header hit the crossbar off a freekick by Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira.

Luck was not on Bueno’s side when just a minute later he powerful shot beat goalkeeper Andrew Hogg to hit the woodwork again.

The match went into extra-time with no goals being scored in regular time.

Valletta scored the winning goal just four minutes before the second half ended of extra-time.

Denni Rocha Dos Santos dribbled past two players before releasing his fine shot to beat goalkeeper David Cassar.

Two minutes before the match ended, Tarxien’s Ryan Mintoff was sent off after hitting a Valletta player.

Valletta will now play either Birkirkara or Floriana in the final on Sunday 22 May. The semi-final match between Birkirkara and Floriana will take place today.

Tarxien Rainbows FC: D Cassar, GL Calabretta, R Costa, C Dos Santos Rodrigues, S Pacheco de Oliveira (J Grioli 88’), M Bueno, L Vella Critien, J Vella (W Zerafa 105’), O Anonam (A Farrugia 117’), R Mintoff, L Galea

Valletta FC: A Hogg, R Briffa, J Caruana, S Borg, I Azzopardi, E Agius, J Pace, D Dos Santos, O Temile (T Scerri 72’), R Fenech (K Sammut 99’), A Antunes (I Zammit 111’)

Goals: D dos Santos 116’

Booked: L Vella Critien, GL Calabretta, R Mintoff, E Agius, S Borg, A Farrugia, T Scerri

Red card: R Mintoff

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi