1 May 2026
BOV GFA Cup Final Gozo Stadium
Qala Saints FC : 1
Xewkija Tigers FC : 2
After Extra Time
29’ (1-0) Gilberto Martins Leite Carrara
51’ (1-1) Claudio Daniel Frances
111’ (1-2) penalty Angel Manuel Bustos
120+5’ (red card) Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dis Santos (QS)
120+5’ (red card) Rodeny Buttigieg (XT)
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez (G. Cardona 100), J. Buttigieg, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (Sergipe), W.A. Dantas Dos Santos, J. Zammit (M. Buttigieg 67), E. Buttigieg, J. Parnis, N.C. Njoku, I. Mohammed, G. Martins Leite Carrara.
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Vella, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella, D. Bugeja (J. Farrugia 115), J. Buttigieg (M. Said 50), S. Cassar, G. Hili (R. Buttigieg 120), A.M. Bustos, B.A. Parada, C.D. Frances (M. Bonnici 91).
The 2025/2026 Gozo football season came to an end with the BOV GFA Cup final held at the Gozo Stadium, where Xewkija Tigers defeated Qala Saints 2–1 after extra time. In doing so, they won the second most important honour in Gozitan football and concluded the season on a positive note. This was the twelfth time that Xewkija have lifted the BOV GFA Cup, and the triumph came after the club had gone eight years without winning a major honour in Gozitan football.
For this match, both teams appeared determined to win the competition in order to make up for their disappointment in the league. As a result, the encounter developed into a highly competitive contest that could have gone either way. During normal time, each team had the upper hand in one half, while in extra time both sides were more cautious. Ultimately, the match was decided by a penalty in the closing moments, when there was not enough time left for Qala to respond.
After the match, the presentation of medals and the BOV GFA Cup to Xewkija Tigers was conducted by Ms. Charmaine Borg, Regional Manager for Gozo at Bank of Valletta, together with officials from the Gozo Football Association, amid celebrations from Xewkija supporters.
Timeline
First Half:
Qala showed more initiative in the first half and created more scoring opportunities, but managed to take just one of them before the break, allowing their opponents to stay in the game.
10’ Qala threatened when Ibrahim Mohammed sent in a cross, but Jordi Parnis failed to connect properly and the ball went out.
11’ (post) Qala nearly opened the scoring from a corner by Gilberto Carrara; Junior Sergipe directed a header goalwards, but goalkeeper Nikola Kosanin saved with the help of the post and the defense cleared.
17’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was again called into action, saving a shot from Ibrahim Mohammed.
25’ Xewkija’s first serious chance came when Claudio Frances crossed, but Brian Parada mis-hit his attempt and the defense cleared.
26’ Xewkija threatened again, but a first-time lob by Brian Parada went wide.
29’ (1–0) Qala took the lead through Gilberto Carrara, who advanced down the right and beat the goalkeeper with a shot into the corner.
39’ Xewkija responded with a cross from Gennaro Hili; Parada’s header was weak, and his follow-up went wide.
45+2’ Kosanin saved centrally from a free kick by Carrara.
45+3’ (post) Xewkija nearly equalized when Parada’s header struck the post.
HT (1-0)
Second Half:
Xewkija emerged more determined after the break, and after equalizing they had further chances but could not score again, forcing extra time.
6’ (1–1) Xewkija equalized through a shot by Claudio Frances that caught goalkeeper Owen Attard off guard.
15’ A first-time shot by Xewkija’s Joseph Mario Vella was saved for a corner by goalie Owen Attard.
30’ A free kick by Xewkija’s Claudio Frances went over.
32’ (crossbar) Xewkija could have added another goal but Matthaus Said hit the crossbar with a powerful effort.
45+4’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin denied Qala a dramatic winner by saving a shot from Wallisson Bahia after a move initiated by Ibrahim Mohammed.
90 mins. (1-1)
Extra Time:
The match remained tightly contested in extra time, with few chances as both defenses stayed alert. Xewkija scored the decisive goal from a penalty in the second half of extra time and then held on until the final whistle, despite a tense ending in which both teams had a player sent off.
1st Half Extra Time:
8’ Kosanin denied Wallisson Bahia with a timely intervention.
2nd Half Extra Time:
5’ (1–2) Xewkija took the lead from a penalty after Manuel Bustos was fouled in the box. The Argentine converted the spot kick.
15+5’ (red cards) Both teams finished with ten players after Junior Sergipe (Qala Saints) and Rodney Buttigieg (Xewkija Tigers), a substitute, were sent off following a clash.
FT a.e.t. (QS 1 – XT 2)
Referee: Daniel Casha
Asst. Referees: Mark Ciantar, Wayne Spiteri
4th Official: Patrick Falzon
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