Sliema W. 3

Qormi 1

Sliema Wanderers snatched a precious win against fighting Qormi to make sure of a place in the Championship Pool, as the second phase of the Premier League starts in three weeks’ time.

This was a decisive victory against opponents, who were still with an outside chance of a top-six finish, in a match that sparked off in the final 20 minutes, as Qormi reduced the deficit and probed for an equaliser before both sides had a player sent off and Sliema struck the fatal blow in added time.

Sliema had Josef Mifsud, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Daniel Mitev all returning from suspension but Mark Scerri was missing from their line-up. Alex Muscat played in an advanced wide position on the right with Lattes their central striker. Ryan Fenech and Nikola Bogdanovic were full of industry as defensive midfielders and Mitev more offensive on the left.

This defeat complicates further Qormi’s progression for the remainder of the season, as they remain two points behind sixth-place Balzan Youths with a match to go.

Qormi looked capable of taking something from this match as they were very good during a goalless first half but the forced substitution of the injured Bello-Osagie might have taken most of the gloss after the restart, as they were undone by two goals within 12 disastrous minutes and never recovered.

Qormi were an unchanged side from the one that started against Mqabba in a 4-1 win.

Qormi made the more assertive start, with Bello-Osagie a constant menace on the left flank. On 12 minutes he controlled Chetcuti’s cross from the right but his shot on the turn went over the bar.

Past the quarter hour Bello-Osagie took possession on Gatt Baldacchino’s erratic pass and played a through ball to Chetcuti, but Galabov cleared into a corner.

Sliema gradually found some rhythm and towards the half hour they created two scoring opportunities. Mitev tested keeper Farrugia who had to turn into a corner his powerful drive from the edge of the area. Then Lattes played a through ball to Muscat, whose low effort was footed out by the Qormi keeper.

That heralded Sliema’s best spell in the first half as Qormi again took the initiative.

On 36 minutes they had claims for a penalty turned down by the referee after Pereira was bundled inside the area and seven minutes later, Kouadio headed Joseph Farrugia’s free kick against the post before Fenech could clear the danger. Another menacing Joseph Farrugia free kick on the stroke of halftime, ended narrowly over.

Qormi had to do without Bello-Osagie in the second half after taking a knock and was forced to be substituted by Suguino. But that did not change anything from their tactical module. Neither did Sliema’s inclusion of Beppe Muscat for Gatt Baldacchino in defence.

Qormi were stunned by Sliema’s goal on 55 minutes though. Fenech played a long ball forward for Emiliano Lattes to chase through the static Qormi defence and lob the ball over the onrushing keeper Farrugia.

Qormi lost much of their composure and Sliema could capitalise, only to be frustrated by some superlative goalkeeping from Matthew Farrugia. On 57 minutes, Mitev ran past Thackray on the left but was blocked by the Qormi shot stopper into a corner. Past the hour Lattes again went past Thackray but his low shot was saved into another corner. Mitev advanced and served Lattes through the middle to be denied once more by Farrugia.

The Wanderers doubled their lead on 67 minutes. Nikola Bogdanovic ran down the right flank past substitute Mirarchi before slotting the ball low past the helpless Qormi keeper.

Qormi though were handed a lifeline on 70 minutes as Beppe Muscat fouled Pereira inside the area to concede a penalty. Joseph Farrugia scored to put his side back into the game.

The final 20 minutes were hectic as Qormi probed for an equaliser and Sliema defended grimly. Farrugia went close with his effort and substitute Eyanga headed the ball into a corner, reaching before Thackray on a high floating ball inside the Sliema area.

On 87 minutes, Sliema had defender Beppe Muscat sent off after collecting his second booking. Qormi increased their efforts. Suguino’s long range shot was tipped over the bar by keeper Bonello and in the proceedings, the referee spotted some infringement and also sent off Qormi’s Sammut.

And deep into four minutes of added time, Sliema struck on a fast break. Fenech ran through the middle, played a perfect pass to the unmarked Anicet Ayanga who finished off to put the issue completely beyond doubt.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, J. Bondin, J. Pereira, K. Thackray, T. Caruana, A. Bello-Osagie (C. Suguino), V. Kouadio (F. Mirarchi)

Coach: S. Azzopardi

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, N. Bogdanovic, J. Mifsud, D. Mitev (A. Eyanga), S. Bezzina, C. Gatt Baldacchino (B. Muscat), T. Cilia (R. Grech), R. Fenech, R. Galabov, E. Lattes

Coach: D. Doncic

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, T. Debono

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: E. Lattes 55, M. Bogdanovic 67, J. Farrugia 70 pen, A. Eyanga 90+

Yellow cards: A. Muscat, K. Thackray, E. Lattes, B. Muscat, J. Mifsud, S. Bezzina, R. Galabov

Red card: B. Muscat, R. Sammut

Player of the match: Emiliano Lattes (Sliema W)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Mitev 2. M. Farrugia 3. R. Fenech