Second-half goals put Stars through

Victoria Hotspurs 2
Vittoriosa Stars 4

Anthony Ewurum came off the bench to fire a quick-fire double that put Vittoriosa Stars into the second round of the U*Bet FA Trophy at the expense of Gozitan champions Victoria Hotspurs.

It was a hard-fought victory for the Stars who had to come from behind twice before seeing off the strong challenge of the Hotspurs.

Victoria had started brightly and they took the lead after 15 minutes when Daniel Farrugia released Kalin Ganchev and the Hotspurs striker fired the ball home with a low drive.

Vittoriosa came back strongly and managed to draw level ten minutes from half-time when Jorge Santos Silva tapped home the equaliser after a fine move by Carlos Campagnoli.

The Hotspurs had an excellent start to the second period when they regained the lead after just two minutes.

Ganchev crossed the ball towards the unmarked Justin Azzopardi who rifled the ball home from an angled position.

Vittoriosa’s response soon arrived though and they drew level on 62 minutes when Leighton Grech turned past his marker and shot the ball home.

The Hotspurs seemed demoralised and two minutes later the visitors completed the comeback when Campagnoli released Santos Silva who set up Ewurum who pushed the ball into the net.

Three minutes from time the Hotspurs were unlucky when a strike by substitute Kevin Farrugia hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

However, the Stars sealed the issue one minute later when Ewurum headed home a Grech cross.

Victoria: H: M. Grima, J. Emanche (J. Farrugia), M. Vella, A. Zammit (K. Farrugia), M. Mifsud, D. Farrugia, R. Grech, D. Bellotti, J. Azzopardi, K. Ganchev, O. Farrugia.

Vittoriosa: S: J.M. Vella, C. Micallef (J. Chetcuti), J. Camilleri, C. Campagnoli, E. Dos Santos, J. Spiteri (A. Ewurum), J. Xerri, D. Cachia, J. Santos Silva, S. Wellman, L. Grech.

Referee: Marco Borg.