Xewkija Tigers beat Qala Saints to win the GFA Cup

It was the perfect ending of the season for Xewkija Tigers who brought to an end an eight-year wait for the Cup competition.

Both teams entered the match eager to make up for the disappointment suffered in the league, resulting in a closely contested encounter that could have gone either way.

Qala looked the better side during the first half and deservedly took the lead through a well-placed shot into the corner by Gilberto Cararra.

However, Qala failed to consolidate their advantage, and in the second half, Xewkija responded, equalising through a long-range effort by Claudio Frances.

As time went on, Xewkija held the initiative but failed to capitalise on their chances, leaving the score unchanged and sending the match into extra time.

During extra time, both defences neutralised the opposing attacks, and scoring opportunities were rare.

Xewkija managed to score the decisive goal in the 111th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Wallisson Bahia on Manuel Bustos.

Bustos picked himself up and converted from the spot.

In the remaining minutes, the match became tense, and in stoppage time both teams were reduced to ten men when the referee showed the red card to Xewkija Tigers substitute Rodney Buttigieg and Qala Saints player Junior Sergipe following an altercation.

After the final whistle, the Xewkija players and officials were presented with the trophy and medals Charmaine Borg, Regional Manager for Gozo at Bank of Valletta, together with officials of the Gozo Football Association, amid the celebrations by Xewkija supporters.

Roll of Honours 2025/2026:

The main honours of the Gozitan football season 2025–2026 were shared among several teams:

• Kerċem Ajax finished as champions and winners of the First Division Knock-Out competition
• Xewkija Tigers – BOV GFA Cup winners
• Qala Saints – GFA Super Cup winners
• Brian Parada (Xewkija Tigers) – First Division top scorer with 18 goals
• Sannat Lions – Second Division champions, promoted to the First Division and winners of the Second Division Knock-Out competition
• Żebbuġ Rovers – winners of the Second Division Challenge Cup
• Igor Nedeljkovic (Sannat Lions) and Felipe Augusto (St Lawrence Spurs) – Second Division joint top scorers with 23 goals each