Qala Saints reach the final of the BOV GFA Cup

24 Apr 2024

BOV GFA Cup (S/Final 2) Gozo Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 0

Qala Saints FC: 2

24’ (0-1) Lucas Mattheus Dos Santos

36’ (0-2) Christian Mercieca

89’ (red card) Gabriel Farrugia (SKVW)

SK Victoria W:

A. Parnis, A. Galiano Lazarini, N. Camilleri, K. Mercieca, M.V. Claudino Ramos (Choco), J. Conceicao Cabral, E. Zammit, C.S. Souza Da Silva, G. Farrugia, A. Touarha (N. Grech 65), J. Saliba (J. Xuereb 79).

Qala S:

O. Attard, Jsph. Buttigieg,  J.V. Ferrari Silva, M. Buttigieg, L.M. Dos Santos, E. Buttigieg, S. Curmi (J. Parnis 70), N.C. Njoku, C. Mercieca (C. Cardona 90+5), I. Nedeljkovic, M. Xerri.

Qala Saints, who ended as runners-up in the championship and who won the GFA Knock Out competition with a win over Nadur Youngsters in the final, earned qualification to the final of the second most important honour in Gozitan football with a 2-0 win over SK Victoria Wanderers in the second semi-final.  Qala’s win was well deserved as they held control of play throughout the first period and scored the two goals that decided the tie.  Qala resisted well to Victoria’s reaction after the break and for most of the time, they kept their territory clear from danger.

The two sides had good reasons to obtain a win and to play their chance to win the BOV GFA Cup.  Qala needed to make up for the disappointing result of the previous weekend where they gave up their hopes to challenge for the title, while SK Victoria Wanderers were aiming to end the season by lifting an important honour.  However, Qala who had Lucas Baretto Da Silva and Nicholas Inguanez missing due to suspensions, while Jordi Parnis came in as a substitute during eh second half, prevailed over their opponents and managed to achieve the objective to challenge their rivals during these last two seasons Nadur Youngsters once more for an important trophy through their territorial supremacy.

Timeline:

Qala took the initiative of play from the early stages and produced more offensive play.  The Wanderers managed to come out of their defence as time passed by but they failed to capitalise on some potential scoring opportunities so the Maroons continued to be the better side on the field and ended the first half with a two-goal lead.

4’ Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was called to make an important intervention to save to a corner a shot from outside the rea by Nathan Chukwudi Njoku.

9’ The Wanderers replied with a curling shot by Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva that ended wide.

14’ Victoria were again dangerous when Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva delivered a good cross inside Qala’s area but the header by Junior Conceicao Cabral ended over the crossbar.

20’ (protests for penalty) Qala protested for a penalty when Christian Mercieca ended up on the floor inside Victoria’s area following a challenge with his opponent.

24’ (0-1) Qala opened the score when Igor Nedeljkovic entered Victoria’s area from the right and unmarked Lucas Matheus Dos Santos who concluded in goal with a low drive.

31’ Victoria’s reaction arrived through a shot from outside the area by Gabriel Farrugia that was deflected to a corner and from the resultant corner action Junior Conceicao Cabral released Joseph Saliba but the latter concluded badly from a good position and the ball ended over the crossbar.

36’ (0-2) The Maroons doubled the lead when Victoria’s defence cleared the ball from the goalmouth a free kick  by Lucas Meus Dos Santos and Christian Mercieca fired towards the corner of the net with a first timer from outside the area.

HT (0-2)

Second Half

After the break, the Wanderers tried to produce a reaction but Qala were well organised and maintained control of play so the actions on goal were very rare and the qualification was never in contention.

20’ Victoria’s first attempt towards Qala’s goal arrived from a free kick by Junior Conceicao Cabral but the ball ended over the crossbar.

24’ Qala could have added another goal but a low shot by Igor Nedeljkovic ended wide.

36’ The Wanderers went close to reduce the deficit but a header by Junior Conceicao Cabral following a cross from the left flank by Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva was saved to a corner by goalie Owen Attard.

37’ Qala could have sealed the win when they operated a counterbreak through substitute Jordi Parnis but from his inviting pass Igor Nedeljkovic had his low shot blocked by Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis.

39’ (protests for penalty) Qala protested for a penalty when he ended up on the floor inside Victoria’s area as he tried to pass his direct opponent.

44’ (red card) The Wanderers ended the match on a negative note as they ended with ten players when Gabriel Farrugia was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul just outside Qala’s area.

FT (SKVW 0 – QS 2)

Referee: Alex Johnson

Asst. Referees: Robert Curtis, Raiden Psaila