HAM

The Challenge Cup came to a close on Sunday with The Hunters’ Tower Restaurant beating Rabat Depiro 3-2 in the Final while Poiatti Qormi took third place when they overcome White Hart 5-3 after the taking of penalties.

Poiatti Qormi to won their decider with White Hart to claim 3rd spot in this year's Challenge Cup competition. The game was a hard fought battle between both teams and there was very little to separate them. In spite of the game having very little significance, both teams fielded two very strong sides and it was clear from the beginning that both of them wanted to win it. In the end, after a 2-2 stalemate, the game had to go to extra time and then penalties to declare a winner with Poiatti winning the shootout 3-1 for an aggregate score of 5-3.

Qormi maintained the majority of possession in the early stages of the game and this resulted in the opening goal of the match. It was once again Frank Bugeja, who seems to have found a prolific vein, who scored when his shot from a tight angle in the dee was deflected by a White Hart player past keeper Galea.

This goal gave White Hart the jumpstart they required and in the first short corner they gained, they drew level. After saving the first two attempts on target, Qormi keeper Chircop could do nothing to stop the third attempt from Luke Borg Costanzi and the game was level once again. After less than 5 minutes, White Hart gained another short corner and from this set piece they took the lead when the ball was neatly passed inside the dee and deflected in from close range again by Luke Borg Costanzi. The first half ended with the Greens trailing 2-1.

In the second half Poiatti played well but White Hart were still very dangerous with their lone striker Luke Busutill Leaver creating all sorts of trouble. In a one to one situation with the keeper, Chircop had the better of him by saving his lifted shot. Poiatti grew from strength to strength and their strong midfield presence paid off when Reuben Chircop found Frank Bugeja unmarked in the dee and the latter coolly finished to level the game. As the game approached the final stages it quietened down and the 15 minutes of extra time were not enough to declare a winner.

A penalty shootout had to decide the contest. White Hart chose to start first with their penalty taker being David Agius. Chircop saved his low push and this should have given Poiatti a psychological edge but Daniel Micallef missed the Greens' first penalty. From then on however Poiatti scored all their remaining strokes whilst White Hart only scored one out of three. The penalty shootout ended 3-1 in favour of the Greens.

The Hunters’ Tower Restaurant notched up their third consecutive Challenge Cup triumph when they came from behind to beat Champions Rabat by three goals to two. Depiro started strongly and after a few minutes they open the score from their first shot corner. A good passing move between Bugeja and Vella that found Josef Antonelli in front of goal and he had no difficulty to score with an easy tap in.

The Hunters’ Tower did not respond immediately but they scored the equaliser from a short corner through Charles Micallef and got back into the game again. Rabat remained the better side for most of the first half but ten minutes from half time came what was probably the turning point of the game. Aquilina was fouled in the Young Stars dee and Rabat were awarded a penalty stroke while Micallef, who committed the infringement was temporally suspended. Charlo Antonelli stepped up to take the stroke but hit the upright and Young Stars took the ball up the other end and Nicky Agius Darmanin picked up a loose ball in the top of the dee and scored putting his side in front.

Early in the second half The Hunters’ Tower were awarded a penalty stoke and Charles Micallef got his second putting his side 3-1 ahead. A few minutes later Rabat were reduced to ten men when Seychell was red carded and from then on, despite their pressure Rabat could not get back into their rhythm and their jittery defence did not help matters. Josef Antonelli’s second goal in the final seconds only gave the score a more respectable look.

Rabat’s chances of revenge comes immediately on Sunday when the National League gets underway and the Champions start their defence of their title against none other then The Hunters Tower Restaurant. The game starts at 11.00. The first match of the League will be at 9.00am and will be between Poiatti Qormi and Sliema Hs.

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