The final of the 2004/05 Knock Out Competition will once again be played between Rabat Depiro and The Hunters’ Tower Restaurant and will be a repeat of last year’s final.
It may be recalled that last year the first final, which Rabat won 2-1, was replayed and the replay was once again won by Rabat by the same score. Thanks to that victory Rabat picked up their first double.
After winning this year’s championship they are in line for a second consecutive double. Facing them will be a Young Stars side determined to honour their runner-up position in the League.
Young Stars were the only side not beaten by Rabat during the League in fact the two sides drew two matches and the two sides drew two matches and Young Stars won the third. They also contested the Super Cup and Challenge Cup finals with Rabat taking the first honour and Young Stars the second. Victory could go either way.
Due to Rabat’s participation in the European Club Challenge ll (Kordin Hockey Complex these days), the final will be played on Sunday 22 May at 10am.
In Sunday’s first semi-final, The Hunters’ Tower Restaurant got the better of Poiatti Qormi 2-1. Mark Camilleri gave them an early second minute lead but before half time it was Philip Magri who equalized for Qormi.
The second half was evenly balanced and the game seemed destined for extra time but with barely five minutes left it was Kalian Cooper who deflected past Chircop for the all important goal.
For the second consecutive Sunday Sliema were involved in a high scoring game this time ending up on the losing end. The game started at a slow pace and Rabat took a somewhat lucky lead when a flick from Charlot Antonelli, defiantly destined out, was unfortunately deflected into his own goal by Sliema goalkeeper Mallia.
Still reeling from this setback Sliema suffered a second when Josef Antonelli was left unmarked in the dee and he had no problem to score. On the stroke of half time Sliema pulled one back through Steve Cachia.
A contested decision by one of the umpires through the game into some confusion as Sliema hotly contested the temporary suspension of one of their players. When calm (!) was restored, Sliema were down to nine men with one player off for good and a second on a temporary suspension.
Rabat pressed home this advantage scoring twice in a short space of time through Josef Antonelli and Kevin Micallef and missed a penalty in between through Jason Vella. Sliema did pull two goals back; an excellent individual one from Andrei Imbroll and a third from Michael Caruana Smith two minutes from time.