Victoria Hotspurs win the 2nd Division KO competition

6 April 2024

GFA 2nd Division KO (Final) Gozo Stadium

Zebbug Rovers : 0

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 4

15’ (0-1) penalty Joseph George Vella

23’ (0-2) Wellington Valentim De Souza

45+3’ (0-3) Shaun Attard

69’ (0-4) Wellington Valentim De Souza

Zebbug R:

G. Saliba, P. Spiteri (B. Camilleri 82), M. Formosa, H. Paulin (O. Mercieca 83), P.P. Camilleri, Ju. Attard, L. Portelli (J. Magro 77), C. Gafa (O. Saliba 46), N.J. Cini, J. Azzopardi (K. Mifsud 46), E.R. Okpokwu.

Victoria H:

R. Sammut, L. Grima, L. Farrugia (L. Atzori 68), S. Attard, D. Farrugia (C. Caruana 68), C. Grima (J. Buttigieg 77), J. Grima (O. Cremona 77), D. Mercieca, J. Tabone, J.G. Vella (J. Azzopardi 68), W. Valentim De Souza.

Victoria Hotspurs obtained a convincing 4-0 win over Zebbug Rovers in the final of the GFA KO competition for the second division so they will be ending the season by winning all the honours of the lower category.  With this win the Hotspurs confirmed their superiority over all the other teams of the second division since the outcome of this final was never in contention.

The Hotspurs came out for this match more aggressively and put their minds at rest from this honour by scoring three goals during the first half.  This was Victoria’s second time that they won this honour as they were also winners of the same competition in the season 2006/2007, which was the last time that they played in the second division.  On the other hand, Zebbug were playing their third consecutive final in this competition, but on this occasion, they never managed to be serious challengers for this second most important honour of the category since they conceded Victoria’s play throughout the encounter.

At the end of the match the President of the Gozo Football Association, in the presence of other GFA officials, presented the medals and the GFA KO 2nd Division Cup to Victoria Hotspurs among the celebrations of the supporters.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

Victoria Hotspurs took command of play from the opening minutes and managed to take the driving seat with a goal scored the lead with an early goal.  Zebbug found it extremely difficult to produce a reaction so the Citizens continued to dictate matters and increased their lead before halftime by scoring on two other occasions. 

14’ (0-1) penalty foul by Matthion Formosa on Shaun Attard and Joseph George Vella fired in goal with his shot from the penalty spot.

18’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through an effort by Joseph George Vella that was deflected to a corner by Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba.

21’ Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba was well placed to block a good shot by Wellington Valentim De Souza and from the rebound, Shaun Attard’s attempt missed the target.

23’ (0-2) Victoria doubled their lead when Wellington Valentim De Souza received the ball outside Zebbug’s area, passed through the defence and concluded in goal with a low shot.

30’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through an attempt directly from a free kick by Joseph George Vella but the ball ended on the roof of the net.

42’ Victoria’s Lucas Farrugia had a lob from an angled position that ended high.

45+3’ (0-3) The Citizens increased their lead through a shot directly from a free kick by Shaun Attard that ended out of the reach of Zebbug’s goalie.

HT (0-3)

Second Half

The match lost much of the interest during the second period as the Hotspurs reduced their intensity of play while Zebbug continued to struggle to create some threatening occasions within Victoria’s territory.

8’ Zebbug produced their first attempt towards Victoria’s goal when Ebube Ralph Okpokwu defended the ball with some difficulty under the pressure of Victoria’s defence but his final shot ended away from goal.

12’ The Hotspurs could have created more danger when Wellington Valentim De Souza entered Zebbug’s area with a personal action but the striker hit badly and the ball missed the target.

14’ (protests for penalty) Victoria protested for a penalty alleging handling when a header by Shaun Attard was blocked by Zebbug’s defence.

22’ Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba denied the Hotspurs from scoring another goal when he blocked to a corner a close-ranged attempt by Shaun Attard.

24’ (0-4) The Hotspurs scored their fourth goal when Shaun Attard released Wellington Valentim De Souza inside Zebbug’s area and the latter concluded easily in goal from close distance.

39’ Victoria’s Shaun Attard went close to increase the lead for his side but his shot from a free kick ended just wide.

42’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through a low shot towards the far post by substitute Lorenzo Atzori but the ball ended wide.

FT (ZR 0 – VH 4)

Referee: Vladimir Rizoski

Asst. Referees: Andrea Pavia Schiavone, Kyle Verbraeken

4th Official: Paula Buttigieg

Photo: Anthony Cassar