Birzebbuġa St Peter’s 2 SK Victoria Wanderers 1 (aet)

In the second semi final of the BOV Challenge Cup, Birzebbugia were clearly hot favourites against SK Victoria Wanderers having just secured promotion to the Malta Premier League. The Victoria team only just missed contesting a relegation decider by the skin of their teeth on goal difference.

SK Victoria Wanderers began brightly and had a free kick after just 3 minutes that was however easily saved by James Pisani. Mustapaha Amodou was clean through on 5 minutes but the Nigerian striker’s shot was saved by Pisani. After that Birzebbuga were in control of the game but did not really trouble Samuel Camilleri or the Victoria defence.

The only chance of note for Birzebbuga was a shot by Joey Reno Vella on 38 minutes that ended up well wide, however. Amodou had an effort that went just wide on 40 minutes. And the Wanderers had the best chance of the match in first half stoppage time when Matthias Cordina had a shot that clipped the post and went wide.

Birzebbuga had another good opportunity on 52 minutes with a shot by Charles Chibuike that was saved by Camilleri. Paul Lapira had a shot that went over the bar on 56 minutes. But it was Victoria who took the lead on 57 minutes after Amodu Mustapha squared to Ender Duvan Vjelma who rounded Pisani and shot into the net.

Victoria had another excellent chance to double the score on 66 minutes when efforts by Amodu and Vielma were saved and blocked whilst Sam Harland saw his shot from, outside the box end up over the bar. Birzebbuga were unlucky not to equalize on 68 minutes when a looping header by Zachary Cassar ended up just wide.

Birzebbuga finally equalized on 71 minutes when Mosquera Torres fired a superb shot from outside the box that gave Camilleri no chance. The Southerners continued pressing forward and had another chance on 79 minutes with a shot by Randall Vella that ended up just wide. Zerafa came close for Birzebbuga on 84 minutes with the ball clipping the crossbar. Victoria replied a minute later with a shot by Matthias Cordina that ended up just over. However neither side managed to break the deadlock and the match went to extra time.

Birzebbuga had the first opportunity in extra time when a shot by Daniel Zerafa was well saved by Camilleri. The rest of the half passed without incident with Birzebbuga coming close again on 108 minutes when Mosquera saw his free kick blocked by the Victoria defence.

Birzebbuga had another great chance on 113 minutes when an excellent shot by Leonardo Agius was quite brilliantly saved by Camilleri. And right on the 120th minute, Birzebbuga won the match with a header by Daniel Zerafa from a free kick to break SK Victoria Wanderers’ hearts.