Hotsticks 1
Young Stars 2
It took 10 minutes of midfield sparring before Hotsticks launched the first serious attack but after added pressure they went ahead in the 15th minute when Silas Plaehn rounded up a flowing move with a tap-in.
Young Stars reacted strongly, winning a penalty corner on 20 minutes from which Ivan Magro Dingli equalised, picking up a rebound off the Hotsticks goalkeeper’s pads.
Hotsticks started the second half on the attack but around the 46th-minute mark, Young Stars won three penalty corners to no avail.
In the 52nd, James Mizzi kept them in the game effecting a diving save to his right and even stopping the rebound from point-blank range in the melee that ensued.
The match took another twist as, after being awarded another penalty corner in the 63rd minute, Mark Camilleri picked his spot to send Young Stars 2-1 up.
Three minutes later, Luke Borg Costanzi failed to add to his team’s lead when he missed the target with a reverse hit.
Umpires: Luke Busuttil Leaver, Paul Brincat.
Rabat 1
Qormi 2
The first half of the game was characterised by Rabat’s well-organised defence keeping Qormi at bay and counter attacking whenever possible.
Qormi won only two penalty corners in the first 20 minutes which they did not convert.
After a flowing movement down the right, Ian Azzopardi, Rabat’s custodian, stopped a shot, turned swiftly and managed to prevent the ball from crossing the line on 26 minutes.
Half-time was reached, with neither team being able to open the scoring.
Qormi began on the attack in the second half. In the 38th minute, Juan Sarcia stepped up to give Qormi a 1-0 lead from a penalty corner action.
Azzopardi again came to Rabat’s rescue in the 54th minute and, when all seemed lost, Shawn Falzon drew Rabat level, throwing the game wide open as extra-time beckoned.
Qormi went ahead in the third minute of the first extra-time period when Joseph Cuschieri netted a beauty from the top of the D.
Rabat nearly equalised in the fifth minute of the second period but were denied by Qormi’s custodian Ramon Chircop as Rabat relinquished their hold on the Challenge Cup.
Qormi thus emerged 2-1 winners to set up a final against Young Stars on Sunday.
Umpires: Manuel Imbroll, James Mizzi.