Rabat Depiro Vs White Hart 1-4 (HT 0-2)
Umpires: Shawn Mifsud and Alessandro Amore
For two clubs that have had a difficult start to the season this was as an opportunity to come out of their defensive mindset as they battled out for the fourth semi-final slot. Rabat did indeed take advantage of their offensive set up as they had a territorial advantage for the first 20 mins of the first half. In fact, were it not for White Hart custodian Ramon Chircop, the score of this match could have been very different. Evergreen Kevin Micallef had a shot saved on the line and this was followed up by near misses from Shawn Dimech and Daniel Ellul. It took White Hart a while to sort themselves out and reorganise but eventually they got it right.
In a swift move down the right flank, Paul Torpiano released Glen Bonello who crossed in to find the same Paul Torpiano to tap in from close range. Rabat reacted and forced a number of penalty corners but to avail. And against the run of play White Hart doubled the score through Glen Bonello who finished a penalty corner move. With the score 2-0 at half time, Rabat thought they were still in with a shout but White Hart weathered the initial storm at the start of the second half and started finding gaps in the Rabat defence.From another penalty corner move, it was now Luca Runza who saw his flick deflected into the net to give White Hart a 3-0 lead. Rabat tried to press but again White Hart held on and Rabat did themselves no favours when one of their players was dismissed for dissent. With ten men, Rabat found it hard to keep up the momentum to try and break the reds' defence and White Hart got a fourth from another short-corner flick from Luca Runza. Rabat eventually got a consolation goal when Kevin Micallef deflected a Shawn Falzon shot right at the end.
White Hart will now meet Sliema Hotsticks in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup at 11am on Sunday 18th November. The other semi-final will be played between Floriana Young Stars and Qormi Daikin at 9.00am on the same date.