Birzebbuga St Peter’s FC won the BOV Challenge Cup after beating Melita FC 3-0 in an entertaining Final at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Melita had the first opportunity of the match, when they had a free-kick on the far right. The ball was played short to Karl Mohnani, but his left-footed effort went over the bar.
photo courtesy of Malta FA
In the 20th minute, Alex Bruno De Souza Silva linked up very well with Zachry Cassar and Duvan Mosquera Torres, before firing a shot that was deflected away.
27 minutes into the game, Birzebbuga were handed a golden opportunity to go in front, after they were awarded a penalty when Jacob Walker was brought down in the penalty area. While Melita called for a check through Football Video Support (FVS), the penalty decision was confirmed. De Souza Silva stepped up to take it, and he made no mistake from the spot, firing Birzebbuga in front.
Melita came close to equalizing in the 42nd minute, when Eric Mensah found a pocket of space on the edge of the penalty area, before curling a wonderful strike that sailed just over the bar. Melita continued to inflict pressure on the Birzebbuga defence in the closing minutes of the half, but they could not find the back of the net, and the two sides went into the break with the score 1-0 to Birzebbuga.
In the second half, both teams took a couple of minutes to settle down. The first major opportunity of the half came in the 54th minute, when a perfectly clipped pass found Olanshile Allionida Quadri, but his effort went wide.
Despite Melita’s pressure, Birzebbuga were the ones to get the next goal. De Souza Silva lobbed brilliant pass towards Paul Lapira, who when faced with goalkeeper Sean Mintoff, fired a shot into the bottom corner to double the Southsiders’ lead.
It was 3-0 in the space of a few minutes, as Birzebbuga hit a quick counter from a Melita attack, and the ball found Zachary Cassar, who curled a beautiful shot with the outside of his boot into the net.
Birzebbuga remained in control during the final minutes of the game, and they saw out the win, clinching the BOV Challenge Cup.
The trophy was presented to the team by Malta FA Senior Vice President Dr Matthew Paris and BOV Head of CSR and Events Charles Azzopardi. De Souza Silva was named BOV Player of the Match.
Melita
12 Sean Mintoff (GK), 6 Jean Pierre Attard (C) (3 Alec Sladden, 67’), 7 Karl Mohnani, 11 Alan Borg Olivier (2 Zak Grech, 82’), 13 Gareth Barone, 15 Eric Mensah, 17 Josuael Azzopardi (10 Benjamin Cassar, 82’), 19 Olanshile Allionida Quadri, 21 Andreas Vella, 26 Kurt Bondin (8 Nick Cutajar, 82’), 27 Kevin Stev Moreno Obregon (20 Jesus Andres Yepez Morlets, 67’)
Coach: Brian Said
Birzebbuga St Peter’s
26 James Pisani (GK), 3 Juan Andres Bolanos Ramirez, 4 Miguel Azzopardi, 5 Joey Reno Vella (C), 8 Matthew Xuereb (2 Nathan Attard, 90’), 9 Duvan Mosquera Torres, 10 Paul Lapira (7 Christopher Mario Baker, 84’), 15 Zachary Cassar (20 Elyas Grioli, 90’), 17 Jacob Walker (16 Randall Vella, 84’), 29 Alex Bruno De Souza Silva, 94 Daniel Zerafa (23 Leonardo Agius, 45+1’)
Coach: Edgar Degabriele
Referee: Daniel Portelli