Victoria Hotspurs Lift the IZIBET Amateur League II Cup

Victoria Hotspurs Lift the IZIBET Amateur League II Cup

Victoria Hotspurs 4 – 0 Mqabba F.C.

Scorers: Ferdinando Apap 27′, Dylan Mercieca 28′, Emmanuel Mbong 65′, Kurt Borg 88′

The Izibet National Amateur League II came to a close on Saturday with the remaining two games in the 2^nd phase of the Championship, won by Victoria Hotspurs who also showed no mercy towards runners-up Mqabba in a match played at the Centenary Stadium.

By beating Mqabba 4-0, the Hotspurs remained unbeaten with 20 wins (on paper) and a draw from 21 games,, scoring 72 goals which means an average of a bit over three per match, a remarkable record in their very first season of MFA football. During the campaign, the team of coach Oliver Spiteri used just 20 players in the process, which is another unusual feat, clearly showing the quality this squad has, with the ‘team of the season’ in the NAL II being mainly made up of Victoria Hotspurs players.

The match on itself was a timid affair with two goals each half. After the Gozitans threatened for the first time on 22 minutes through a Kurt Borg header, it was team captain Ferdinando Apap who broke the deadlock five minutes through a deflected free-kick. Barely a minute later, Mqabba conceded their second through Dylan Mercieca, who could double after picking up a loose ball.

It could have been 3-0 two minutes later but Bartolo made a great save from a Rondinely attempt. Four minutes before the end of the half, Mqabba could have pulled one back but Ryan Dalli’s effort sailed high. Bartolo came to the rescue on 44 minutes once more by parading another Rondinely goalscoring opportunity.

Seven minutes later the re-start, the Gozitans were awarded a penalty but Rondinely’s spotkick hit the crossbar. On 65 minutes, substitute Emmanuel Mbong added the third goal for the Hotspurs with a low shot while on 81 minutes, young Mqabba substitute goalkeeper Jacob Agius did well to parade a Kurt Borg opportunity. However, Borg sealed the issue with two minutes left to play, rounding off a probing run with his 12^th league goal of the campaign.

After the match, festivities started with James Morgan, Brand Manager of IZI Group plc, and MFA Vice President Matthew Paris handing over the Trophy to Ferdinando Apap.

Match Report by MFA Match Centre