2024/25 AMATEUR CUP
SEMI-FINALS
Qrendi 3-2 Mellieha
Two Amateur Cup Semi-Finals were played on Wednesday night with Qrendi and Victoria Hotspurs winning their games, contesting for the Amateur Cup this Sunday at 4pm.
At the Centenary Stadium, Qrendi proved to be the better side over Mellieha, who were perhaps the slight favourites but found the team of Gotthard Conri eager to progress, pressing the Blues into their own half for long stretches and being clinical up front. Therefore Qrendi deservedly will play their second knock-out Final ever, after losing the 4th Division KO Cup to Ta’ Xbiex way back in 1977 after a replay.
Qrendi, again without regular goalkeeper Christian Cassar and Brazilian goal-getter Leo Salgado, were showing the better ideas in the opening phase, but initially without creating much danger in the box. It was Mellieha who came close on 20 minutes from a free-kick by Sasha Glumac which hit the crossbar via the fingertips of Qrendi goalkeeper Miguel Abela, with the Qrendi defence clearing the danger.
The Greens pressed well on midfield and on 28 minutes, Brooklyn Sciberras snatched the ball from Michael Camilleri, setting up Ayesller Carvalho on the right who delivered a precise cross to Gianfranco Micallef whose header hit the woodwork. The Blues found it hard to penetrate the Qrendi rear-guard who delt well with long balls thrown at Tejumola Ayorinde, who was often left too isolated up front.
On 42 minutes, Blues’ speedster Alexander Akl was released on the left flank but his effort hit the side-netting. In stoppage time, Qrendi took the lead thanks to a fine individual effort by captain Brandon Bray, who rounded off a splendid run down the left side of the box with an accurate shot which had the better of Mellieha goalkeeper Tony Curmi, a typical Bray goal which we have seen more often this season.
Mellieha, who introduced striker Malcolm Vella-Vidal at half-time, equalised eight minutes after the break when Glumac blasted home a free-kick from just outside the area, given after an awkward misunderstanding by Qrendi goalkeeper Abela, who assumed the referee had whistled for an off-side infringement and wanted resume play with a free-kick.
However, on 73 minutes, Qrendi re-took the lead when Mellieha goalkeeper Curmi waited too long to pass the ball in his own box with Bray blocking with the ball falling into the path of Ayessler who blasted home from close-range.
Six minutes later, Gianfranco Micallef beat the off-side trap with a run through the middle, beating Curmi with a grounder to give Qrendi a healthy 3-1 lead. Deep into stoppage time, Edafe Uzeh scored a consolation goal for the Northerners but it was too little too late for Mellieha, who were clearly undone by this missed opportunity to play a rare Final for silverware.
Attard 0-5 Victoria Hotspurs
The first Semi-Final at the Victor Tedesco Stadium was target for Victoria Hotspurs who, quite emphatically, set aside Attard with a 5-0 final score with two first half scores and three after the change of ends. The Gozitans, who are near the end of a memorable season, already won the Amateur League II unchallenged and could very well add the Amateur Cup and perhaps even the Amateur Super Cup to their already impressive trophy cabinet.
Attard, on the other side, were looking to revitalize their disappointing season where they missed out on promotion, but found the Hotspurs in splendid shape, clearly showing the desire to get that prestigious maiden season double.
As expected, Victoria started strongly and had a good opportunity on ten minutes from a cross by Brazilian striker Rondinely, which found Kurt Borg who headed over the bar. Three minutes later Borg gave Victoria the lead after a delightful one-two with Dylan Mercieca with the former Mtarfa striker concluding successfully.
Victoria threatened again on 15 minutes but Mercieca missed a glorious sitter from the six-yard box firing well over. Ferdinando Apap came close after 18 minutes from a corner with his effort saved by Miguel Caruana. After several more opportunities, the Gozitans association debutants scored their second in first half stoppage time with Matthias Said concluding strongly. Attard were never in the match, this second goal felt like the Hotspurs practically sewing up the tie already.
Attard should have halved the deficit on 67 minutes when Nicholas Schembri was alone in the box, but his shot was incredibly guided wide. Victoria increased their lead three minutes later when Valentim de Sousa Wellington found Kurt Borg who napped his brace with another poacher’s goal.
The team of coach Oliver Spiteri made it four 13 minutes from time with a fine header by Dejan Bogdanovic with the match long since over as a contest. The icing on the cake came on 86 minutes when Wellington smashed past Caruana to seal another impressive victory and a maiden Cup Final for the Hotspurs.
