BOV Amateur Cup target for Qormi; Xghajra Tornados relegated

BOV NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP FINAL 2025/26 
Qormi 4-0 Victoria Hotspurs 
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. 
 
Qormi coach Clive Mizzi was forced into a reshuffle ahead of kick-off, handing 17-year-old goalkeeper Shason Borg his senior debut due to an injury to regular shot-stopper Deisler Vella. On the opposite bench, 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 89 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. 
 
Previous Finals 
24/25   Victoria Hotspurs 2-1 Qrendi 
23/24   Mgarr United 3-2 Kirkop United aet 
22/23   Zabbar St Patrick 2-0 Mgarr United 
21/22   Zabbar St Patrick 6-2 Marsaskala 
20/21   Msida St Joseph v Zurrieq not played due to the Covid-19 pandemic 
 
 
BOV AMATEUR LEAGUE I 
RELEGATION DECIDER 
Xghajra Tornados 0-1 Pembroke Athleta 
The BOV Amateur League I Relegation Decider between Xghajra Tornados and Pembroke Athleta at the Victor Tedesco Stadium earlier today was won by the latter, who repeated history as two years ago, Pembroke also managed to save their third tier status through a Decider. It was a tight encounter which could have gone either way, with the team of coach Jeffrey Mifsud being eventually the more clinical one, safeguarding another year of NAL I football after a difficult campaign.  
 
Xghajra had the first opportunity to take the lead on 16 minutes when a fine pass by Richmond Hanson reached Cedric Zahra who saw his effort blocked by Clayton Rapa. The match was a balanced one with both teams flooding midfield and creating precious few opportunities. Shaban Chikh Ali tried his luck with a shot from outside the box on 24 minutes that went just wide. Raylon Paisley had a similar effort that went just over the bar on 26 minutes as the Tornados were increasing the pressure.  
 
Pembroke had their first chance on 32 minutes when a free kick by Kyle Sciberras Balbi ended up just over the bar. The Reds had another opportunity on 51 minutes when a cross from the right found Felix de Melo whose effort ended up over the bar. Kyle Sciberras Balbi had a stinging shot that went just over on 58 minutes as the match began opening slightly. 
 
Pembroke had another chance when Brazilian dangerman Weverton had another shot that ended up just wide on 63 minutes. Xghajra followed suit with a central shot by Hanson that was easily saved by Rapa. On 65 minutes, Pembroke scored what proved to be the winner when Gomes Weverton was sent through and managed to rifle into the top of the net after shaking off his direct marker, to the delight of the Pembroke faithful. 
 
Xghajra almost equalised immediately when a shot by Raylon Paisley smashed against the post. Pembroke had another fine opportunity to make it 2-0 when a header by Malcolm Vella Vidal was acrobatically saved by Saliba on 82 minutes. But despite a late Xghajra rally, Pembroke held on to retain their status in the Amateur League I.