23 November 2025
GFA 1st Division Knock Out (S/Final) Kercem Stadium
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 1
Qala Saints FC : 1
After Extra Time
SK Victoria W win 4-3 on penalties
16’ (1-0) Sam Harland
45+2’ (1-1) Ibrahim Mohammed
SK Victoria W:
S. Camilleri, A.L. Cutler, N. Camilleri, M. Cordina (J. Bugeja 106), E. Zammit, C.S. Souza Da Silva, S. Harland, J. Wilkson Texeira Rocha, M. Camargo Gomes Da Silva, O. Fenech (K. Grima 40, A. Touarha 98), L. Fenech.
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, Jsph. Buttigieg, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (Sergipe), M. Buttigieg (G. Cardona 46), J. Zammit (M. Camilleri 109), E. Buttigieg, G. Santos Lemos, N.C. Njoku (J. Pace 45), I. Mohammed, G. Martins Leite Carrara.
In the first semi-final of the First Division Knock-Out competition, holders SK Victoria Wanderers booked their place in the final after eliminating Qala Saints on penalties, keeping alive their hopes of defending the title they won last season.
The match was finely balanced and qualification could have gone either way, as both SK Victoria Wanderers and Qala Saints enjoyed spells of superiority and created scoring opportunities throughout the 120 minutes. However, both teams lacked accuracy in front of the goal, and it came as no surprise that the contest was eventually decided by a penalty shootout.
Wanderers had appeared capable of managing the early goal they scored, but Qala equalised before half-time, growing in confidence and becoming more adventurous. The match remained an open and competitive affair, with Victoria posing a constant attacking threat, and the outcome remained in doubt until the final whistle of extra time.
In the penalty shootout, Qala converted their first two attempts and the fourth, but missed the third and fifth kicks. SK Victoria Wanderers responded by scoring all four penalties they were required to take, securing qualification with a 4–3 shootout victory.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline
First Half:
Qala started aggressively and created early opportunities, but Victoria gradually grew into the match and eventually took the lead. The Wanderers looked capable of controlling the game, but Qala equalised seconds before the break, leaving qualification wide open.
1’ Qala went close when a header by Nathan Njoku from a Gilberto Carrara corner went narrowly wide.
10’ Ibrahim Mohammed broke down the left for Qala, but his effort missed the target.
12’ Matthias Cordina delivered a low cross from the right, but Joe Wilkinson’s close-range effort went wide.
14’ A defensive error by Victoria almost proved costly when goalkeeper Samuel Camilleri miscleared; Joseph Zammit beat the keeper but headed over from close range.
16’ (1–0) Victoria scored after Jose Wilkinson intercepted possession in midfield and advanced before passing to Sam Harland, who beat his defender and finished low into the net.
31’ Owen Fenech tried his luck for Victoria, but his shot went over.
33’ Qala goalkeeper Owen Attard saved comfortably from Jose Wilkinson’s header following a free kick by Matthias Cordina.
42’ Sam Harland’s long-range shot was parried by Attard, and the defence cleared the rebound before Wilkinson could finish.
45+2’ (1–1) Qala equalised when Victoria failed to clear a free kick by Joseph Zammit, and Ibrahim Mohammed capitalised on the loose ball to score from a scramble.
HT (1-1)
Second Half:
The tempo increased after the restart, although both defences remained alert. Qala enjoyed more possession, but Victoria created the better scoring chances early in the half. As time passed, both sides became more cautious, and the match proceeded to extra time.
15’ Caique Souza crossed from the left, and Emerson Zammit’s effort was blocked on the line.
16’ Emerson Zammit again threatened but shot wide from a promising position.
33’ Qala nearly took the lead when Joseph Zammit slipped the ball to substitute Gabriel Cardona, whose low effort toward the far post drifted wide.
90 mins. (1–1)
Extra Time
Qala began extra time with greater determination and applied pressure during the first period, while Victoria were more attack-minded in the second half. However, neither side could find a breakthrough and penalties were required.
1st Half:
1’ Qala created two quick chances: Joseph Zammit misjudged a header after a Carrara cross, followed by a weak shot from Carrara that was easily saved.
6’ Joseph Zammit crossed from the right, and Gabriel Cardona’s close-range effort was cleared off the line by Samuel Camilleri.
12’ Joseph Zammit attempted an overhead kick from distance, which Camilleri saved on the line amid strong protests that the ball had crossed the line.
15+1’ Gilberto Carrara fired a low shot that Camilleri saved.
2nd Half:
15+2’ Victoria had the final chance when Caique Souza fired wide from a good position.
120 mins. (1-1)
Penalty Shootout:
Qala missed two of their five penalties, while SK Victoria Wanderers converted all four of theirs to secure qualification for the final.
Qala S:
Gilberto Carrara (scored), Matteo Camilleri (scored), Sergipe (saved), Gustavo Lemos (scored), Gabriel Cardona (wide).
SK Victoria W:
Jose Wilkson (scored), Caique Souza (scored), Mateus Gomes (scored), Sam Harland (scored).
FT a.e.t. (SKVW 1 – QS 1)
SK Victoria Wanderers win 4-3 on penalties
Referee: Reuben Spiteri Delicata
Asst. Referees: Luca Grech, Kankaras Igor
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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