Maltese Veterans and MAFA Selection set up Jubilee Cup Final showdown

The Maltese Veterans and MAFA Selection have booked their spots in the Jubilee Cup final in the member associations’ category, with both teams needing penalty shootouts to overcome their semi-final opponents in dramatic fashion.

Maltese Veterans Edge SWAN Selection in Thriller

The Maltese Veterans defeated SWAN Selection 5-4 on penalties after a tense 2-2 draw in regulation time.

Ian Zammit gave the Veterans an ideal start, opening the scoring in the 15th minute, with his side holding a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second half saw Auwal Abba take centre stage for SWAN, scoring twice between the 47th and 73rd minute to turn the game around. Just when SWAN seemed poised for victory, Manolito Micallef struck late to level the score at 2-2, forcing a penalty shootout.

From the spot, the Veterans were flawless as Micallef, Justin Grioli, Andrew Cohen, Ian Zammit, and George Frendo all converted. SWAN’s Abba, Gabriel Felipe, Darrell Baldacchino, and Klajdi Qose also found the net, but the decisive moment came when Sean Lee Lanzon’s effort was saved, sending the Veterans through to the final.

MAFA Triumph After Dramatic Comeback Against IASC

The second semi-final was another thriller as MAFA Selection overcame IASC 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 4-4 draw in regular time.

Fabrizio Farrugia put MAFA ahead early, but Ishmael Grech quickly equalised. The match then turned into the Diego Fernando Ovallos show, with the forward scoring a superb hat-trick to put IASC firmly in control.

MAFA refused to give up and staged a stunning comeback, with Juan Navarro, Anas Souhaile, and Anthony Spiteri all finding the net to make it 4-4 by full time.

In the penalty shootout, Souhaile, Lamin Saho, Nikola Neskovic, and Spiteri held their nerve for MAFA, while IASC scored through Alexander Keiber, Marlon Yesid, and Jerome Fiteni. However, crucial misses by Jorge Diaz and Ovallos sealed MAFA’s dramatic victory.

Final Set for Friday

The Jubilee Cup final between the Maltese Veterans and MAFA Selection will take place this Friday at the Centenary Stadium, with both sides determined to cap off their campaigns by lifting the prestigious trophy.