Qormi-Naxxar 1-2
Qormi: M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, R. Sammut, G. Bellucci, L. Grech, R. Bajada, S. Bezzicheri (J. Chetcuti), T. Caruana (F. Santaguida), E. Vella, O. Bugeja, D.Pisani
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, M. Briffa, A. Buhagiar, R. Cassar, G. Ribeiro (O. Agboebina), A. Decesare, P. Doffo, T. Lopes De Souza, A. Rocha Da Silva, T. Scerri (D. Falzon), Evaldo
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, P. Apap
Additional Asst.refs: P. Caruana, M. Apap
4th official: P. Abela
Scorers: G. Ribeiro 18, 21, R. Sammut 45+,
Yellow cards: G. Bellucci, D. Pisani, A. Buhagiar, T. Caruana, G. Ribeiro, A. Decesare, A. Rocha Da Silva, Evaldo
Player of the match: G. Ribeiro (Naxxar L)
TMI top three: 1. G. Ribeiro 2. P. Doffo 3. M. Farrugia
Naxxar Lions won this game with something to spare courtesy of Gilmar Ribeiro’s first half goals, his first for the newcomers, against poor Qormi.
The Brazilian, playing behind the strikers, had taken his goals expertly and continued to impress with his control of the ball and awareness throughout the match. He was also prominently involved in many of his side’s moves.
Strengthened by the inclusion of Evaldo at the back, to partner Thiago Lopes De Souza, Naxxar have four points already from their first two league matches, surely a profitable yield for a promoted team that is making their appearance in the Premier League as perennial relegation candidates
Whether they are capable of maintaining this momentum will become clear over the next few weeks and matches, but at least the Lions have won some admirers after a draw against Floriana and a win against Qormi. Yesterday they always knocked the ball around with more confidence and fluidity than their sorry opponents.
Qormi are going to struggle if they are this susceptible to teams playing on the counterattack. With some lingering imperfections, their team has still to take off the new season after two back-to-back defeats.
Volpi team introduced new central defender Giuseppe Bellucci, one of three changes in their starting line-up after the 4-0 drubbing by Sliema Wanderers. The others were Roderick Sammut and Leighton Grech, replacing Joseph Chetcuti and Italians Leonardo Gabrieli and Federico Santaguida. Despite the presence of Effiong and Grech, they were toothless in attack. Simone Bezziccheri lacked the required inventive.
But they were most vulnerable in midfield.Carauna and Bajada were unable to provide decent cover to their defence and when Naxxar countered, they did not have the pace to keep up. Qormi thus conceded too many free kicks around their penalty area. It was from one, after 18 minutes, that Naxxar broke the deadlock through a defiant strike from Brazilian Gilmar Ribeiro at the top corner.
Three minutes later the same player doubled the lead for the Lions. He won possession on a short Bugeja pass, took the ball in his stride from the left and after going past two opponents, he beat keeper Farrugia for the second time with a low diagonal shot, picking out the lower corner. Two early goals put Naxxar firmly in command. From a Doffo corner, midway through the half, Rocha Da Silva also hit the crossbar.
Many feared a goal deluge.
But on the half hour, Naxxar suffered a setback as their forward Terence Scerri limped off after suffering a knock and was substituted by Daren Falzon.
On the few occasions Qormi got the ball behind the opposition, they found keeper Azzopardi in good form. On 23 minutes Pisani’s inswinging cross shot from the right was tipped over the bar into a corner by the Naxxar keeper, who also saved a Bezzicheri free kick past the half hour.
Qormi were handed a lifeline, deep into three minutes of added time. Naxxar blatantly conceded a free kick outside their area on the right, taken by Bajada. Their defence cleared short and, as the ball bounced invitingly in the path ofthe unmarked Roderick Sammut, he blasted past the helpless keeper Azzopardi.
Naxxar continued to press after the interval and should have scored a third assuring goal. Gilmar Ribeiro went through but was foiled by keeper Farrugia on the hour. Doffo’s shot narrowly missed the target and Falzon headed wastefully wide on Doffo’s inviting cross.
On 66 minutes the Qormi keeper stretched himself to turn Doffo’s meaty free kick into a corner and Farrugia again palmed out Briffa’s central drive after good work by Ribeiro and a low cross from Rocha Da Silva.
Although conceding no more, Qormi still looked like a team that came out short and it was no surprise that they ended up empty handed.