Qormi 3

Marsaxlokk 1

Qormi M. Farrugia, J. Chetcuti, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Farrugia (D. Cachia), F. Mirarchi, K. Scicluna, J. Bondin, J. Pereira, A. Bello-Osagie (C. Sammut), D. Nwoke (Jos. Chetcuti)

Marsaxlokk R. Gauci, C. Mamo, M. Licari (P. Borg), C. Brincat, S. Eboh, C. Campagnoli, F. Reimy, E. Lattes (M. Valeriani), D. Kokavessis (G. Caruana), O. Obiefule, M. Deanov

Referee E. Azzopardi

Asst.refs J. Camilleri, M. Debono

4th official P. Caruana

Scorers J. Pereira 7, J. Farrugia 32 pen, J. Bondin 77, M. Deanov 90+

Yellow cards M. Licari, C. Brincat, K. Scicluna, C. Mamo, J. Chetcuti

Red card C. Brincat

Player of the match J. Pereira (Qormi)

TMI top 3 1. A. Bello-Osagie 2. J. Pereira 3. S. Eboh

A much revamped Qormi recovered their winning form, as they dominated yesterday’s encounter against Marsaxlokk from start to finish to win more handsomely than the final score suggests.

Their success was punctuated by the wing play of Bello-Osagie and Pereira who were almost always involved in most of their side’s build-ups.

Qormi had their work cut short with an early Pereira goal and a Joseph Farrugia penalty in the first half that practically wrapped up the points.

Italian full back Federico Mirarchi was making his Premier League debut for them. Jonathan Bondin was also given a start and scored his side’s third goal.

Struggling Marsaxlokk failed to reproduce the same form that saw them score four goals and beat Tarxien Rainbows five days earlier. For a long time they were a distant second best in all aspects of the game, looking devoid of belief. Not for the first time this season, their defence was penetrated with startling ease.

Qormi made the more assertive start and within seconds of kick-off went very close with an Nwoke diagonal effort missing the target from close range. The disgruntled Qormi fans, who turned up in small numbers after their team’s disappointing defeat against Mqabba, could not stand another upset and urged the players to take an early grip on the match.

Qormi obliged, breaking the deadlock after seven minutes when Jorge Pereira headed in Bartolo’s cross from the right.

On 32 minutes, Bello-Osagie played a square pass to Pereira who went inside the area but was felled by Licari’s late tackle to concede a penalty. Captain Joseph Farrugia tucked it away to give Qormi a double lead by halftime.

Marsaxlokk’s only real threat during the first 45 minutes came midway through the half. Obiefule shot from outside the area, forcing keeper Matthew Farrugia to turn the ball over the bar into a corner.

Play fell into more mediocre levels in the second half with Qormi defending their lead with minimal difficulty, even remaining more potent going forward.

On 54 minutes Bello-Osagie twisted and turned to find space and tested keeper Debono with a powerful shot.

On 63 minutes Eboh was right on time to cut Perreira’s low cross with a sliding tackle before Nwoke could connect. Nwoke headed Bartolo’s resultant corner wide.

Three miutes later, Nwoke shot carelessly wide on a Bello-Osagie forward pass before being substituted by Joseph Chetcuti.

Marsaxlokk should have reduced the deficit on 67 minutes but Qormi’s defender Sammut headed out Lattes’ goalbound effort into a corner, with keeper Farrugia completely beaten.

The goal came on the other end though on 77 minutes. Jonathan Bondin picked a loose ball, after the Marsaxlokk keeper had parried a Joseph Chetcuti shot on Bello-Osagie’s pass, and scored with a low diagonal drive.

That put the issue beyond any doubt, even though Jeffrey Chetcuti mishit Borg’s cross in the dying minutes and nearly beat his own keeper.

To rub salt into Marsaxlokk’s wounds, their centre back Clive Brincat was sent off just before the end for a second caution but the Southseasiders still managed to hit a consolation goal in added time through a Martin Deanov good effort after lobbing the ball over the stranded Qormi keeper.