Birkirkara were forced to dig deeper than anticipated to overcome the spirited challenge of Challenge League outfit Pietà Hotspurs, eventually securing a 2-0 victory to book a Meridianbet FA Trophy quarter-final meeting with Żabbar St. Patrick.

Despite the difference in divisions, Pietà created several promising opportunities and even struck the woodwork early on, unsettling the Stripes before the Premier League side managed to break the deadlock. The Hotspurs pushed forward in search of an equaliser after the interval, but Birkirkara’s second goal ultimately settled the contest.

Paul Zammit’s men threatened inside five minutes when Manuel Morello tested Cini with a cross-shot that was well saved. Pietà responded on 13 minutes, coming agonisingly close to taking the lead as Luke Bugeja’s long-range effort crashed against the upright. Moments later, Lecao’s free kick was comfortably dealt with by Miguel Ángel Martínez.

Birkirkara went ahead on 16 minutes. Geoffrey Acheampong swung in a free kick from the left, Kemar Reid’s close-range header was blocked, and Alessandro Coppola reacted quickest to slot home past Cini.

Acheampong nearly doubled the lead midway through the half with another free kick that drifted just wide, while Lecao fired over for Pietà after a well-worked move. Cini then kept his side in the game with an excellent stop to deny Aleandro Garzia’s volley.

Early in the second half, Lecao again tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target. On the hour, Sami Abo Assaf’s powerful effort was pushed behind by Martínez, who was called into action again shortly after to palm away Jake Borg’s free kick.

Birkirkara made the game safe on 70 minutes. Kemar Reid drove into the area from the left and squared for substitute Jere Vršič, who finished clinically beyond the helpless Cini.

The Stripes nearly added a third late on when Donovan Makoma unleashed a fierce drive that sailed just over the crossbar, but the two-goal margin was enough to see them through to the last eight.