It took a dramatic penalty shoot-out to separate Floriana and Valletta after a tense and largely cagey encounter that failed to deliver the spectacle many had anticipated.

Clear-cut opportunities were limited throughout the match, although Valletta looked the more threatening side for long stretches and will feel unfortunate not to have secured victory before penalties, especially after striking the woodwork deep into stoppage time of extra-time.

However, Floriana remained defensively organised throughout and eventually held their nerve from the spot, with goalkeeper Cioletti emerging as the hero after saving two penalties to send the Greens into next Saturday’s final.

Valletta started brightly and threatened after 10 minutes when Yuri Messias floated a ball towards Emmanuel Mbende, whose header was tipped over the bar by Cioletti.

As the game progressed, tension appeared to affect both sides, with the match becoming increasingly cautious and neither goalkeeper heavily tested.

Valletta’s only other notable first-half chance arrived from a quickly taken corner, with Messias finding Diogo Tavares, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Cioletti.

The pattern continued after the break, with both teams struggling to create openings in a tightly contested midfield battle.

On 63 minutes, Valletta came close again when Messias headed the ball into the path of Jake Azzopardi, who fired over from a promising position.

The Citizens continued to look more dangerous and nearly broke the deadlock on 74 minutes when Thaylor Aldama played Adebayo through inside the area, but the Nigerian was unable to apply the finishing touch.

Neither side managed to find a breakthrough before the end of normal time, forcing the contest into extra-time.

Even then, chances remained scarce as both teams battled cautiously, aware that a single mistake could prove decisive.

Valletta suffered a setback when goalkeeper Adilson Maringa was forced off injured and replaced by Julani Archibald, who was making his first appearance of the season.

The Citizens came agonisingly close to victory late on. Three minutes from time, Mbende’s powerful header was brilliantly kept out by Cioletti, before Valletta struck the post moments later when Adebayo connected with a free-kick delivered by Brandon Paiber.

With the match still deadlocked, penalties were required to determine the winner.

Floriana goalkeeper Cioletti proved decisive in the shoot-out, saving penalties from Paiber and Tavares to swing the momentum firmly in the Greens’ favour.

Although Archibald responded with a save from Owen Spiteri, Floriana remained composed from the spot.

Mbende then saw his penalty strike the crossbar before Mylew Beerman calmly converted to leave Floriana one kick away from victory.

Jake Grech stepped up to score the decisive penalty and send Floriana through to next Saturday’s final.