2016–17 Maltese FA Trophy

The 2016–17 Maltese FA Trophy was the 79th version of the tournament. This version of the competition began on 3 September 2016 and ended on 20 May 2017.^[1] For the first time since 1933 the new Malta Football Association FA Trophy was unveiled. The new trophy, which is partly financed by the English FA, was presented for the first time to the winners.^[2]

2016–17 Maltese FA Trophy

Tournament details
Country	Malta
Teams	65
Defending champions	Sliema Wanderers
Final positions
Champions	Floriana (20 Times)
Runners-up	Sliema Wanderers
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

With quarterfinal victory over Pembroke Athleta, Victoria Wanderers became the first club from Gozo to advance to the semifinals.^[2]

Sliema Wanderers were the defending champions, but lost in the final to Floriana.

Format

The Maltese FA Trophy was a single elimination tournament between 65 teams. The winner of the tournament, Floriana, earned a place in the Europa League. Matches which were tied after regulation went to extra time and if still tied after that, to penalties to determine a winner.^[3]

Schedule

Round	Date(s)	Number of fixtures	Clubs
Preliminary round	3 September 2016	1	65 → 64
First round	9–11 September 2016	12	64 → 52
Second round	21–23 October 2016	20	52 → 32
Third round	29 November – 14 December 2016	16	32 → 16
Fourth round	17–18 January 2017	8	16 → 8
Quarterfinals	18–19 February 2017	4	8 → 4
Semifinals	13 May 2017	2	4 → 2
Final	20 May 2017	1	2 → 1

Preliminary round

The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held 17 August 2016.

Xghajra Tornadoes (4) v Għarb Rangers (2)

3 September 2016	Xghajra Tornadoes (4)	1–2	Għarb Rangers (2)	Ta' Qali
15:00 CEST	Glenn Bonello 73' (pen.)		Frank Attard 77' Glenn Saliba 83' (o.g.)	Stadium: Centenary Stadium Referee: Patrick Mangion

First round

Twelve first round matches were played 9–11 September 2016.^[1]

Team 1	Score	Team 2
9 September 2016
Kalkara (4)	2–3	Għajnsielem (1G)
Msida St. Joseph (4)	1–0	Luqa St. Andrew's (4)
Nadur Youngsters (1G)	7–1	Għarb Rangers (2G)
10 September 2016
Kirkop United (4)	4–0	Marsaskala (4)
Mdina Knights (4)	1–5	Victoria Hotspurs (1G)
Mtarfa (4)	0–7	Xagħra United (1G)
Ta' Xbiex (4)	0–2	Munxar Falcons (2G)
St. Lawrence Spurs (2G)	3–0	Żurrieq (4)
11 September 2016
Oratory Youths (1G)	5–0	Dingli Swallows (4)
St. Lucia (4)	0–3	Kerċem Ajax (1G)
Qala Saints (2G)	0–6	Xewkija Tigers (1G)
St. Venera Lightnings (4)	0–3	Victoria Wanderers (1G)

Second round

Twenty second round matches were played 21–23 October 2016.^[1] All teams from Maltese First Division and Maltese Second Division entered the second round.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
21 October 2016
Marsaxlokk (3)	0–4	San Ġwann (3)
Munxar Falcons (2G)	0–8	Għargħur (2)
Mellieħa (3)	2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p)	Birżebbuġa (3)
Żebbuġ Rangers (2)	2–0	Fgura United (2)
22 October 2016
Kirkop United (4)	0–1	Pietà Hotspurs (2)
Attard (3)	1–5	Vittoriosa Stars (2)
Mġarr United (3)	2–1	Żabbar St. Patrick (3)
Qrendi (3)	2–1	Oratory Youths (1G)
Rabat Ajax (2)	1–2	Sirens (2)
St. George's F.C. (3)	2–3 (a.e.t.)	Siggiewi (3)
Ghaxaq (3)	0–4	Nadur Youngsters (1G)
Swieqi United (3)	3–0	Gudja United (3)
23 October 2016
Msida St. Joseph (4)	0–1	Mqabba F.C. (2)
Qormi (2)	1–4	Xewkija Tigers (1G)
Melita (2)	1–2	Victoria Wanderers (1G)
Kerċem Ajax (1G)	3–3 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p)	Marsa (2)
Lija Athletic (2)	5–0	St. Lawrence Spurs (2G)
Senglea Athletic (2)	7–1	Xagħra United (1G)
Naxxar Lions (2)	1–4	Għajnsielem (1G)
Victoria Hotspurs (1G)	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p)	Zejtun (3)

Third round

Sixteen third round matches were played between 29 November – 14 December 2016.^[1] The draw for the third and fourth rounds was held 25 October 2016. All teams from Maltese Premier League entered the third round.^[4]

Team 1	Score	Team 2
29 November 2016
St. Andrews (1)	3–0	Birkirkara (1)
Senglea Athletic (2)	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Hibernians (1)
30 November 2016
Marsa (2)	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Xewkija Tigers (1G)
Sliema Wanderers (1)	3–2	Mosta (1)
Pietà Hotspurs (2)	0–2	Lija Athletic (2)
7 December 2016
Victoria Hotspurs (1G)	2–3	Għajnsielem (1G)
13 December 2016
Għargħur (2)	0–6	Tarxien Rainbows (1)
Floriana (1)	5–0	Birżebbuġa (3)
Swieqi United (3)	0–1	Qrendi (3)
Siggiewi (3)	0–2	Mqabba F.C. (2)
14 December 2016
Valletta (1)	1–0	San Ġwann (3)
Balzan (1)	3–1	Żebbuġ Rangers (2)
Vittoriosa Stars (2)	3–2	Gżira United (1)
Sirens (2)	1–2	Pembroke Athleta (1)
Victoria Wanderers (1G)	5–0	Mġarr United (3)
Nadur Youngsters (1G)	0–2	Hamrun Spartans (1)

Fourth round

Eight fourth round matches were played 17–18 January 2017.^[1]

Lija Athletic (2) v Tarxien Rainbows (1)

17 January 2017	Lija Athletic (2)	0–3	Tarxien Rainbows (1)	Ħamrun
18:00 CEST			Alexander Nilsson 8', 30' Julian Galea 74'	Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium Referee: Etienne Antoine Mangion

Vittoriosa Stars (2) v Senglea Athletic (2)

17 January 2017	Vittoriosa Stars (2)	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Senglea Athletic (2)	Ħamrun
20:15 CEST	Andreas Galea 74'		James Augustin Obaje 37' Terence Vella 101'	Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Floriana (1) v Għajnsielem (1)

18 January 2017	Floriana (1)	4–1	Għajnsielem (1)	Ta' Qali
18:00 CEST	Ryan Camenzuli 4' Steve Pisani 36' Mario Fontanella 63' (pen.) Nicolas Chiesa 83'		Demba Toure 77' (pen.)	Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium Referee: Stefan Pace

Sliema Wanderers (1) v Qrendi (3)

18 January 2017	Sliema Wanderers (1)	5–0	Qrendi (3)	Ħamrun
18:00 CEST	Denni Dos Santos 32' Jean Paul Farrugia 45' Ryan Spiteri 54' Peter Xuereb 69', 89'			Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium Referee: Glen Tonna

Victoria Wanderers (1) v St. Andrews (1)

18 January 2017	Victoria Wanderers (1)	1–0	St. Andrews (1)	Xewkija
18:00 CEST	Predrag Djordjevic 85'			Stadium: Gozo Stadium Referee: Philipp Farrugia

Marsa (2) v Pembroke Athleta (1)

18 January 2017	Marsa (2)	1–2	Pembroke Athleta (1)	Ta' Qali
19:00 CEST	Luis Andre De Melo 43' (pen.)		Stevan Raccic 59', 74'	Stadium: Centenary Stadium Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Balzan (2) v Valletta (1)

18 January 2017	Balzan (2)	1–0	Valletta (1)	Ta' Qali
20:00 CEST	Alfred Effiong 90+1'			Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium Referee: Mario Apap

Hamrun Spartans (2) v Mqabba (2)

18 January 2017	Hamrun Spartans (2)	1–0	Mqabba (2)	Ħamrun
20:15 CEST	Saturday Nanapere 79'			Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium Referee: Clayton Pisani

Quarterfinals

Four quarterfinal matches were played 18–19 February 2017.^[1] The draw for the quarterfinals was held 20 January 2017.^[5]

Senglea Athletic (2) v Sliema Wanderers (1)

18 February 2017	Senglea Athletic (2)	0–0 (a.e.t.) (2–3 p)	Sliema Wanderers (1)	Paola
14:00 CEST				Stadium: Hibernians Stadium Referee: Matthew De Gabrielle

Balzan (1) v Tarxien Rainbows (1)

19 February 2017	Balzan (1)	1–2 (a.e.t.)	Tarxien Rainbows (1)	Ta' Qali
14:00 CEST	Baker Ebiabowei 43' (o.g.)		Triston Caruana 51' (pen.) Samir Arab 114' (o.g.)	Stadium: Ta'Qali National Stadium Referee: Trustin Cann Farrugia

Victoria Wanderers (1) v Pembroke Athleta (1)

19 February 2017	Victoria Wanderers (1)	2–0	Pembroke Athleta (1)	Gozo
15:00 CEST	Miguel Attard 28' (o.g.) Predrag Djordjevic 49'			Stadium: Gozo Stadium Referee: Emanuel Grech

Floriana (1) v Hamrun Spartans (1)

19 February 2017	Floriana (1)	2–0	Hamrun Spartans (1)	Ta' Qali
17:15 CEST	Vella 21' Pepe 25'			Stadium: Ta'Qali National Stadium Referee: Mario Apap

Semifinals

Two semifinal matches were played 13 May 2017.^[1] The draw for the semifinals was held on 8 May 2017.^[2]

Victoria Wanderers become the first football club in Gozo to reach the semifinals of Maltese FA Trophy.

Victoria Wanderers (1) v Floriana (1)

13 May 2017	Victoria Wanderers (1)	1–3	Floriana (1)	Xewkija
17:00 CEST	Giarrizzo 45+2'		Pisani 23', 71' (pen.) Vella 53'	Stadium: Gozo Stadium Referee: Clayton Pisani

Tarxien Rainbows (1) v Sliema Wanderers (1)

13 May 2017	Tarxien Rainbows (1)	0–3	Sliema Wanderers (1)	Ta' Qali
17:00 CEST			Mateus 23' Leonardo Incorvaia 38' Mark Scerri 63'	Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Final

The final was played 20 May 2017.^[1]

Floriana and Sliema Wanderers met in the final for the fifteenth time, having previously met in 1935, 1936, 1938, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1979 and 1993.^[6] Floriana had won eight times and Sliema Wanderers six times.^[6]

The last time Floriana and Sliema Wanderers met together in Maltese FA Trophy was during the 2014-15 Third round when Floriana beat Sliema Wanderers 5–4 on penalties when the match ends 0–0 draw.

Floriana (1) v Sliema Wanderers (1)

20 May 2017	Floriana (1)	2–0	Sliema Wanderers (1)	Ta' Qali
17:00 CEST	Enzo Adrian Ruiz 4' Borg 90+3'			Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium Attendance: 3750 Referee: Glen Tonna[7]

See also

2016–17 Maltese Premier League

External links

• maltafootball.com
• uefa.com
• soccerway.com
• MFA