WHITE HART 3
SLIEMA HOTSTICKS 5

(after extra-time)

This match-up was to decide the fourth semi-finalist in the pre-season HAM Challenge Cup at Corradino.

The game ebbed and flowed with first White Hart taking a 3-1 lead by the 55th minute only to be pegged back to 3-3 with eight minutes of normal time left.

Hotsticks then scored twice in the first half of extra-time to win 5-3 and book their place in the last four of the competition.

After a quiet start, Liam Azzo-pardi shot White Hart ahead.

Hotsticks reacted and, although they exerted pressure on the White Hart rearguard, winning six penalty corners, they did not convert any and Azzopardi’s goal separated both sides at the change of ends.

The second half started brightly and Paul Torpiano made it 2-0 with a crisp effort from the top of the D.

Hotsticks pulled one back through Steve Portelli.

This goal prompted a White Hart reaction and Mark Zahra scored the side’s third goal in the 55th minute after a melee in the D, restoring their two-goal advantage.

White Hart looked coasting through but Hotsticks had other ideas and goals from Simon Baldacchino and Portelli pushed the match into extra-time.

After both teams probed each other’s defences, Sliema struck twice when Portelli notched his hat-trick and Baldacchino grabbed his second and his side’s fifth goal to complete the scoring and give Hotsticks victory.

In Sunday’s semi-finals, Sliema meet Young Stars and Qormi face Rabat.

Umpires: Edward Hughes and Robert Aquilina.