19 March 2024
GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup (Final) Gozo Stadium
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 3
Sannat Lions FC : 1
After extra time
22’ (penalty missed – wide) Wellington Valentim De Souza (VH)
49’ (0-1) Boubacar Kanta
50’ (1-1) Daniel Farrugia
91’ (2-1) Lucas Farrugia
102’ (red card) James Tabone (VH)
110’ (red card) Boubacar Kanta (SL)
112’ (3-1) Lucas Farrugia
Victoria H:
R. Sammut, L. Grima, L. Atzori (L. Farrugia 88), S. Attard, D. Farrugia, C. Grima, J. Grima, D. Mercieca, J. Tabone, E. Xiberras, W. Valentim De Sousa.
Sannat L:
K. Attard, J.W. Meilak (C. Dingli 109), K. Xuereb (G. Debrincat 106), E. Gauci, N. Grima (D. Borg 91), T. Agius (J. Xerri 77), C. Gauci, A. Azzopardi, C. Buttigieg, B. Kanta, M. Gauci.
Victoria Hotspurs obtained a 3-1 win over Sannat Lions, after extra time, in the final of the 2nd Division Challenge Cup so they won the first honour from three for the lower category.
Victoria Hotspurs saw more of the ball for most of the encounter but during the regular time, Sannat managed to be well-organised and remained in contention to win this trophy. The Hotspurs missed an opportunity to take the lead midway through the first half and conceded Sannat’s opener at the beginning of the second half. The Citizens scored an immediate equaliser but failed to put their heads in front until the end of regular time so the final had to be extended into extra time. The Hotspurs converted their superiority with two goals scored during extra time, where substitute Lucas Farrugia ended up the protagonist by scoring the two decisive goals.
After the match, the President of the Gozo Football Association Dr Samuel Azzopardi, and other GFA officials, presented the medals and trophy to Victoria’s players and staff among the celebrations of the supporters.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Victoria Hotspurs came out more aggressive and tried to impose their superiority but Sannat were well organised in their defence and managed to keep a clean sheet until the break.
2’ Victoria could have scored an early goal but a good shot by Wellington Valentim De Souza was saved to a corner by goalie Kyle Attard.
21’ (penalty missed – wide) The Hotspurs had a golden opportunity to open the score when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Manuel Gauci on Shaun Attard but the shot from the penalty spot by Wellington Valentim De Souza ended wide.
27’ Victoria’s Daniel Farrugia had a shot following a personal initiative that ended wide.
32’ Sannat had their first serious attempt towards Victoria’s goal that arrived through a header by Boubacar Kanta following a free kick by Aaron Azzopardi, which was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Richard Sammut.
45’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through a fine shot from a good position by Shaun Attard that was blocked by the defence to a corner and from the clearance of the corner kick, the same Attard took the ball but his cross-shot missed the target,
HT (0-0)
Second Half
The match became much more interesting after the break as Sannat managed to open the s but the Hotspurs recovered the deficit in the following action. Until the end of regular time, the result remained unchanged and the match had to enter extra time.
4’ (0-1) Sannat opened the score when Boubacar Kanta took the ball from Victoria’s defence and concluded in goal with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
5’ (1-1) The Hotspurs had an immediate reaction and levelled the score through a low shot from outside the area by Daniel Farrugia that ended out of the reach of Sannat goalie.
7’ Vicotria could have turned the result in their favour but a header by Lorenzo Atzori following a cross from the right flank by Christian Grima ended wide.
20’ (crossbar) The Hotspurs went again close to score but an attempt directly from a free kick by Shaun Attard was stopped by the crossbar.
31’ Th Hotspurs could have capitalised better when Sannat’s goalie cleared badly a cross shot from the left flank by James Grima but Shaun Attard’s header ended on the roof of the net.
90mins. (1-1)
Extra Time
– 1st Half
1’ (2-1) The Hotspurs manged to take the lead in this match through a header by substitute Lucas Farrugia following a corner kick Shaun Attard.
12’ (red card) The Hotspurs were reduced to ten players when James Tabone was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Boubacar Kanta.
– 2nd Half
5’ (red card) Sannat were also reduced to ten players when Boubacar Kanta was shown a second yellow card, after receiving his first caution two minutes earlier, for a foul in the midfield.
7’ (3-1) Victoria Hotspurs practically made sure of the win by scoring the third goal that arrived through a break by Lucas Farrugia who entered Sannat’s territory and netted with a low shot.
FT a.e.t. (VH 3 – SL 1)
Referee: Reuben Spiteri Delicata
Asst. Referees: Kankaras Igor, Luca Formosa
4th Official: Paula Buttigieg
photo: Anthony cassar
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