GŻIRA UNITED 2-1 NAXXAR LIONS
Andre 76, Maxuell 100 pen. (G); Vitinho 21 (N)
GŻIRA
E. Colombo; G. Mentz, D. Abela, A. Borg (71 B. Borg), Andre (112 S. Martinez), Maxuell, C. Failla (119 M. Van de Bovenkamp), L. Riascos, S. Bastic (56 Kante), C. N’Sa, D. Xuereb (71 J. Bonilla).
NAXXAR
M. Debono; T. Kruger (105 Y. Montero), G. Felipe, M. Fenech (105 S. Bugeja), L. Pahama (97 G. Costa), E. Farias (105 S. Guehi), Vitinho, D. Letherby (46 M. Micallef)(120 J. Azzopardi), Rosiel, V. Baiano, Joao Moura.
Referee: Alex Johnson.
Yellow cards: A. Borg, J. Moura, S. Bastic, Vitinho, S. Guehi.
Red cards: Matthias Debono (N) 120.
This will be the first time the Maroons will be playing in the final of the FA Trophy after their triumph in the 1973 edition where they had defeated Birkirkara 2-0 in a second replay following two goalless draws.
Naxxar, who were chasing their first ever FA Trophy final in the club’s history managed to take the lead mid-way through the first half but Gżira levelled matters with a goal in the second half, notching the winner with a penalty in the first half of extra-time.
After just three minutes, Andre served Maxuell on the left but the latter rounded Rosiel with Matthias Debono intercepting the ball.
Naxxar replied with a cross by Vitinho from the left and Edson Farias controlled the ball and pulled to the left but his shot was deflected into a corner by Edoardo Colombo.
The Lions managed to take the lead on 20 minutes when off a good move between Edson Farias and Joao Moura, the latter served Vitinho who controlled the ball before beating goalkeeper Colombo with a fine shot from outside the area.
Gżira thought they had equalised on 31 minutes when Failla served Andre who beat goalkeeper Debono with a diagonal shot from the left but the goal was disallowed for an offside.
Then, three minutes from the end of the first half, Andre served Luis Riascos on the left but the latter’s shot was neutralised by the Naxxar custodian.
Sixteen minutes in the second half, Gżira threatened with a cross shot by Clayton Failla which scraped past the post after Maxuell failed to connect from close range.
However, on 76 minutes, the Maroons levelled matters. Clayton Failla delivered a corner from the right and Andre headed home past goalkeeper Matthias Debono.
On 90 minutes, Naxxar went close to regaining the lead when Joao Moura hit the crossbar with a header with Colombo deflecting the ball and Vinicius Baiano served Theo Seara Kruger who hit wide.
In added time, the Maroons demanded a potential penalty review following a clash between two players but the referee confirmed his decision not to award a penalty.
With the result still draw, the game went into extra time and after just one minute, Colombo came to the rescue for Gżira, performing a good save on a header by Edson Farias who was left unmarked on the right.
The Maroons were awarded a penalty on 98 minutes when Brooklyn Borg was pushed down by Mattias Micallef after entering the area from the left.
From the penalty spot, Maxuell put them ahead for the first time as his attempt saw the ball hit the crossbar and the upright before the ball ended at the back of the net.
Twelve minutes in the second half of extra-time, Vitinho had a free kick from the right for Naxxar blocked by Colombo.
Two minute in added time, Naxxar goalkeeper Matthias Debono left his side in ten men after denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity when he fouled Maxuell in midfield following a short clearance by a defender. Debono was replaced by Jamie Azzopardi for the remaining minutes.
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