SK Victoria Wanderers ended a 14-year wait to win a major honour in Gozitan football as they beat Xagħra United to lift the Division One Knock Out.
Għajnsielem retained their place in the First Division for another season after achieving a victory in the promotion/relegation play-off against Sannat Lions.
In midweek, Nadur Youngsters and Kerċem Ajax reached the final of the BOV GFA Cup, which will conclude the 2024-25 season.
SK Victoria Wanderers are the winners of the tenth edition of the First Division Knock Out competition after they earned a 3-0 victory in the final against Xagħra United.
This was the first time the Wanderers won this honour, which is the third most prestigious competition in Gozitan football.
Both teams were determined to win this honour and make up for a disappointing league campaign.
For much of the game the Wanderers were in control and took a two-goal lead courtesy of a brace by Igor Da Silva Costa on 24 and 38 minutes.
SK Victoria could have added another goal just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty but Caique Souza Da Silva saw his effort saved by Xagħra goalkeeper Lorjean Xuereb.
Xagħra, who were missing without forward Johan Castano due to suspension, tried to respond in the second half but failed to find the target.
A minute from time, Xagħra were reduced to ten men when substitute Steve Sultana was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
In the sixth minute of injury time the Wanderers sealed the win when substitute Sam Harland tapped the ball home from close in.
After the match, Samuel Azzopardi, the GFA president, presented the trophy and medals to the SK Victoria Wanderers.
GFA Cup
In the GFA Cup semi-finals, Nadur Youngsters defeated holders and new champions Qala Saints 4-3 after extra-time.
The match was a hard-fought affair between two sides who have been protagonists over the last three seasons, and qualification remained uncertain until the end.
Qala dominated the first half and took the lead on 28 minutes through Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz.
Nadur fought back and first levelled matters through Brandon Said on 41 minutes before turning the game when Diego Pires Dall’Oca scored directly from a corner on 72 minutes.
Qala stepped up the pressure and equalised on 82 minutes when Ezequiel Ruiz from the penalty spot.
But in the eighth minute of injury time Qala were reduced to ten men after Nathan Njoku was sent off for a foul in midfield.
The match became more tense, and before extra time began, police had to intervene to restore order between players and officials.
Nadur regained the lead in the 104th minute through substitute Joseph Xerri, and just as the second half of extra time began, the match was suspended for a little over six minutes because the assistant referee struggled to continue due to pressure from fans.
After play resumed, Qala equalised in the 117th minute through Igor Nedeljkovic.
Just as it seemed the match would be decided by penalties, in the third minute of added time Nadur scored the decisive goal through Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes to seal a 4-3 win.
In the second semi-final, Second Division champions Kerċem Ajax surprised First Division side SK Victoria Wanderers and qualified for the final with an 8-7 win on penalties, after the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
The game was tightly contested and both teams had periods of dominance where they could have secured the win.
Kerċem were in control during the first half but both teams went into the break goalless.
The Wanderers took the lead early in the second half with a goal by Neil Camilleri that arrived on 64 minutes.
Kerċem managed to send the game in extra-time when scoring the equliser on 90 minutes through Cesar Velez Da Silva.
Kerċem seemed more motivated and went ahead in the 94th minute with a goal by Samuel Azzopardi, but the Wanderers levelled the score ln 97 minutes through Igor Da Silva Costa.
The score remained unchanged and the tie was decided on penalties.
The Ajax converted six penalties through Cesar Velez Da Silva, Jason Theuma, Andrew Mizzi, Lorenzo Atzori, Andre Azzopardi, and Daniel Cassar, while Christian Vella’s shot went over the bar.
On their part, SK Victoria Wanderers converted five penalties through Igor Da Silva Costa, Weder Soares Da Silva, Owen Fenech, Emerson Zammit, and Matthias Cordina, while Caique Souza Da Silva and Luke Fenech missed the target from the spot.
In the Play-Off for a spot in the top Gozitan football division for next season, Għajnsielem lived up to expectations and beat Second Division side Sannat Lions.
Għajnsielem had a great start and after just 38 seconds of play they were awarded a penalty following a foul by Tristan Grech on Nunes Santos, which Marcus Claudino Ramos converted from the spot.
In the 12th minute, Għajnsielem doubled their lead with a close-range finish by Naim Ibrahim Belhadj, but in the 19th minute Sannat pulled one back with a goal by Aud-Gustine James Obaje.
Sannat ended up playing with ten men in the 37th minute after Grech was sent off, allowing Għajnsielem to take control and add two more second-half goals from Esneider Daza Carranza in the 54th minute and Kaio Nunes Santos in the 70th minute for a 4-1 win.
NEXT FIXTURES
Sunday – Gozo Stadium
BOV GFA Cup Final
Nadur Y. vs Kercem Ajax 16.00
