Jubilee Cup – 125 Anniversary
Valletta…………………..2
Tarxien Rainbows…..0
Valletta claimed the second final berth with a 2-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows, scoring both goals in the second half and extending their flawless campaign to four wins, nine goals scored, and none conceded.
Yuri de Jesus Messias threatened early with a curling effort, while Tarxien responded through a dangerous free-kick by Enrico Junior De Oliveira. Valletta came closest before half-time when Messias’ low strike crashed off the upright.
The match turned on 55 minutes when Valletta defender Neil Anthony Micallef received a second yellow card, confirmed via FVS after a foul on De Oliveira. Despite going down to 10 men, Valletta opened the scoring on 70 minutes through Messias, finishing from close range after excellent work by Sava Radic and Thaylor Aldama.
Tarxien were reduced to 10 men themselves just five minutes later, when Rafael Rodrigues Tavares was shown a straight red card following another FVS intervention.
Valletta sealed the win in stoppage time when Aldama squared the ball to captain Brandon Paiber, who calmly finished to make it 2–0. Moments later, Tarxien believed they had pulled one back through Jai Quitongo, but the goal was overturned for a foul in the buildup following an additional FVS review.
Valletta managed the closing minutes comfortably to secure their place in the final.
Sliema Wanderers….0 (9)
Żabbar St. Patrick…..0 (8)
Sliema Wanderers booked their place in the final after defeating Żabbar St. Patrick 9-8 on penalties, following a tense 0-0 draw after regular time.
Sliema controlled much of the match, creating several early chances through Vito Plut and Roko Prša, but were repeatedly denied by Żabbar’s experienced goalkeeper Jonathan Grech.
Żabbar nearly stunned Sliema late in the first half, but Italian forward Mario Fontanella failed to connect with a dangerous cross at close range.
The second half saw fewer clear chances, with opportunities falling to Kyrian Nwoko and Myles Beerman, though neither managed to break the deadlock.
In stoppage time, Żabbar appealed for a penalty when Sliema goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi appeared to collide with an attacker, but following an FVS consultation, referee Alex Johnson upheld his original decision.
The match was ultimately decided from the spot, where Sliema converted nine penalties, through Murillo, Montebello, Fernandinho, Nwoko, Wescley, Bah, Borg, Magri Overend, and Alcino, clinching their place in the final.
Żabbar scored eight of their attempts, but crucial misses from Mayron and Pedro Cejas proved decisive.
