The quarter-finals finally kicked off after a chaotic afternoon of delays on Sunday, 21st September 2025. Galacticos FC and Elite XI FC were first up at SUB, with kickoff eventually happening at 3:00 PM. The game started at a frantic pace. Elite XI FC nearly stole the show early when Basit’s curling effort rattled the crossbar, while Galacticos forced sharp stops at the other end. The chances kept coming—first a bicycle kick attempt, then through missed one-on-one opportunities—until Galacticos finally drew first blood. On the stroke of halftime, their No. 10 Annex floated in a free kick that slipped through the Elite goalkeeper’s hands. He’ll rue not punching clear. Elite returned from the break determined, pressing higher and testing the Galacticos backline. With less than 10 minutes to go, a moment of magic from substitute Tifase set Elite through on goal, but the Galacticos keeper came out to clear. Elite XI had looked vulnerable to crosses all game, and with the clock winding down, it finally proved their undoing when a floated delivery into the box was nodded home by Victor to double Galacticos’ lead. And just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for Elite FC, disaster struck again. Defender Timo showed composure to evade the press but then, rather uncharacteristically, gifted possession away at the edge of the penalty area, and Marvellous needed no second invitations to punish the error with a sublime curling finish. At 3–0, the contest was settled. The final whistle at 4:00 PM confirmed Galacticos as the first team into the semi-finals.
It was exactly 4.07 PM when Forza FC and Vipers FC took to the pitch for the second quarter-final. Vipers thought they had struck inside two minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. The opening half was balanced but nervy. Forza were troubled by balls over the top, while Vipers were twice denied—first by the keeper, then by a desperate clearance. However, just before halftime, Forza would find its moment. Forward Jamiu Sulaimon stepped past two, three defenders and smashed home for 1–0, and in doing so went top of the goalscoring charts. Soon after, Forza nearly doubled their lead, but Frank slipped after being played through, and Vipers breathed again. The second half raged in the midfield. Both sides went blow for blow but lacked the final touch. And just when it seemed that one goal would do it for Forza, Kesh failed to clear a dangerous ball, allowing a Vipers player to run in behind and square to Ohunrere for an easy tap-in. At 5:06 PM, the whistle sent the tie to penalties. Forza were ice-cold from the spot, converting all five attempts. Stand-in captain Kesh, who had been at fault for the Vipers’ late equaliser, stepped up to score the winning penalty and redeemed himself. Vipers, who missed once—the first penalty—could only watch as Forza celebrated a 5–3 shootout triumph after a 1–1 draw in regulation.
