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maltatoday SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018 Sports 50 FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Sliema Wanderers ...... 0 Hibernians ................ 0 (Penalty shoot-out Sliema 4 - Hibernians 1) WARREN ZAMMIT THE second match at the Na- tional Stadium saw Hibernians and Sliema Wanderers facing off for a place in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy. This game was very important for both sides if they are going to win an honour this season as their chances of lifting the Premier League tro- phy are quite remote. To make it to the quarter-fi- nals, Hibernians eliminated Vic- toria Hotspurs and Xewkija Ti- gers of Gozo. On the other hand, Sliema secured wins against St Andrews and Ħamrun Spartans. The two teams shared posses- sion during the first half with neither team risking too much. In addition, the tempo of the game was very slow as the game had to stop various times due to injuries. Hibernians were also forced to make an early substitution on the 25th minute since Joseph Mbong suffered an injury. Mar- celo Dias took his place. In fact, supporters had to wait for the half hour mark to wit- ness a chance on goal. Ricardo Calixto Correa sent a cross in the direction of Nikolae Mil- inceanu who in front of Rudy Briffa failed to make contact with the ball. Hibernians hit back on the 35th minute. Jorge Pereira Da Silva received the ball inside the penalty area and hit a shot that was neutralised by Glenn Zam- mit. The game remained quite bal- anced during the remaining minutes as the first half ended in a goalless draw. Sliema went close one minute into the second half. Milinceanu served Frank Temile and the lat- ter hit a close range shot that failed to hit the target. The Paolites replied on the 49th minute. Clayton Failla fired a shot from a free-kick that was saved by Zammit. Mark Miller was forced to make another substitution on the 65th minute since Bjorn Kristensen suffered an injury and was replaced by Arlindo Ol- iveira Neto. Neto nearly scored a minute after replacing Kristensen. The Hibs substitute received a won- derful through ball from Failla before firing a shot that went centimetres wide. On the 82nd minute, Failla hit a shot from distance that sailed wide. Sliema replied through Temile. The twenty-seven-year-old mid- fielder sent a shot from inside the penalty area that was saved by Briffa. Hibernians suffered a huge set-back on the 90th minute when the referee sent off Rodol- fo Soares after showing him his second yellow card. A few minutes later, the referee whistled the end of the normal time and the match went into extra-time. Zammit was on the alert to de- ny Hibernians on the 92nd min- ute. Neto hit a powerful drive that forced a good save from Sliema's goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Jackson Li- ma tried his luck from distance, but his effort went wide. Despite playing with ten men, Hibs kept on insisting and went close again on the 99th minute. Johann Bezzina found space and fired a shot from outside the penalty area that was once more saved by Zammit. Sliema responded on the 108th minute. Following a corner, Jon- athan Pearson headed the ball high. In the remaining time, both teams remained cautious not to concede as the game went into a penalty shoot-out. Following the penalty shoot- out, Sliema emerged as winners. Temile, Matias Muchardi, Peter Xuereb and Michele Sansone scored for the Wanderers, while Bezzina scored for Hibs. Jackson Lima and Jorginho missed their kicks for the Paolites. Hibernians starting line-up: Rudy Briffa, Dunstan Vella, Martin Kreuzriegler, Jackson De Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares, Bjorn Kristensen (Arlindo Ol- iveira Neto – 65), Clayton Fail- la, Andrei Agius, Joseph Mbong (Marcelo Dias- 25), Jorge Pereira Da Silva, Georgi Gorozia (Jo- hann Bezzina – 60) Sliema Wanderers starting line-up: Glenn Zammit, Goran Adamovic (Jonathan Pear- son – 104), Frank Temile, Ma- tias Muchardi, Edmond Agius (Michele Sansone – 84), John Mintoff, Ricardo Calixto Cor- rea, Peter Xuereb, Nikolae Mil- inceanu, Kurt Shaw, Ashong Ni Nortey (Kilan Ameli – 79) Referee: Matthew Degabriele Assistant Referees: Luke Por- telli, Alan Camilleri Fourth Of ficial: Fyodor Zam- mit Yellow Cards: Rodolfo Soares (Hibs), Ashing Ni Nortey (Slie- ma), Frank Temile (Sliema), Dunstan Vella (Hibs), Rodolfo Soares (Hibs), Jackson Lima (Hibs), Johann Bezzina (Hibs), John Mintoff (Sliema) Red Cards: Rodolfo Soares (Hibs) Sliema secure shoot-out win over Hibernians Sliema Wanderers needed penalty shoot-out to register a 4-1 win over Hibernians as the game remained goalless for 120 minutes