Victoria Hotspurs Stunned by Qormi in the BOV National Amateur Cup Final

Victoria Hotspurs Stunned by Qormi in the BOV National Amateur Cup Final

Victoria Hotspurs F.C. 0 – 4 Qormi F.C.

The 6th edition of the BOV National Amateur Cup played on Saturday afternoon at the Centenary Stadium was target for Qormi, who beat Amateur League I runners-up Victoria Hotspurs 4-0 after a fiercely contested game. It was an entertaining encounter between two of the best teams at this level, with Qormi softening their wounds after missing out on promotion last weekend.  

The Canaries had booked their place in the final with victories over Mellieha, Dingli Swallows, Lija Athletic and Pembroke Athleta. Victoria Hotspurs, meanwhile, progressed past St Lawrence Spurs, Qrendi on penalties, Kirkop United and Mqabba after extra time in the semi-finals. 

Hotspurs coach Oliver Spiteri once again entrusted 19-year-old Bulgarian midfielder Emil Grozdanov, a homegrown product of Ghajnsielem, in the absence of suspended trio Shaun Attard, Dejan Vukovic and Kurt Borg. 
 
The Yellows started brightly despite playing against a strong wind, although clear-cut chances proved limited during the opening half hour. Victoria, last year’s winners of the Amateur Cup, came closest to breaking the deadlock on 34 minutes when Christian Saint Ebisindor somehow headed wide from close range after meeting a precise cross by Christian Mercieca at the far post. 

Qormi responded immediately at the other end, with Neil Tabone setting up John Awori, only for the Nigerian forward to miskick from an ideal angle with only goalkeeper Steve Sultana left to beat. 
 
The breakthrough finally arrived five minutes before the interval. After Sultana failed to gather Awori’s dangerous delivery into the six-yard area, Emmanuel Garba’s effort was turned behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Victoria failed to clear their lines and Emerson Vella reacted quickest inside the crowded penalty area to head Qormi into the lead. 

With the Gozitans largely subdued, Qormi continued to threaten before half-time through Awori, Garba and Jayden Borg, while Victoria nearly equalised in stoppage time when Rondinely, served by Ferdinando Apap, rattled the crossbar from a free-kick routine. 

The second half began in tense fashion, with both sides committing a series of fouls as the intensity increased. Yet Qormi remained the more composed outfit and almost doubled their lead on 68 minutes when Sultana produced an excellent save to deny Garba’s powerful low drive. The Hotspurs goalkeeper, however, could do little moments later as Garba rose superbly to meet Dale Mifsud’s cross with a magnificent header that flew into the net to make it 2-0. 

 
Mizzi’s men seized complete control shortly afterwards, exploiting the spaces left by a desperate Victoria side chasing the game. Garba was again at the heart of the move, driving forward intelligently before setting up substitute Ayrton Azzopardi, who finished clinically past Sultana for Qormi’s third. The former Malta international nearly added another on 79 minutes when his well-struck free-kick crashed against the post, with Sultana reacting quickly to keep out Carlos Debattista’s follow-up attempt. 

 
Victoria pushed forward in search of a consolation goal late on, but Qormi remained dangerous on the counterattack. In stoppage time, young goalkeeper Borg capped an impressive debut by producing an excellent save to deny Rondinely, sealing a memorable afternoon for the Canaries as they celebrated an emphatic cup final triumph. 

Match Report by MFA Match Centre