Pieta H 1
Qormi 4
Qormi made it five in a row beating second placed ten-man Pieta after another solid display. Qormi deserved their win, even though the result is a bit harsh on Ramon Zammit's side, who had a brilliant start taking the lead after eighty seconds, but fizzled away when their captain was sent off at the start of the second half.
It is still to early to judge as there are still many matches till the end of the season, but Qormi yesterday made their intentions clear that they are the team to beat this season and are firm favourites to return to elite football at the end of the season.
Pieta had a dream start taking the lead after only 85 seconds when Mensah was put through by Pace Cocks and the striker made no mistake with a low shot. But Pieta's joy was shortlived as six minutes later Qormi were back on level terms when the Pieta defence failed to clear away the danger and Caetano da Silva hammered home from the edge of the area.
Qormi held the upper hand for long stretches and went close again with a Lubos Ademec freekick that was brilliantly saved by Montfort. On the other end Ruiz Perez rose well to meet an Artiaga corner but his header slightly missed the far upright.
On 33 minutes Qormi took the lead when Ruiz Perez lost possession of the ball on the half way line and Chris Matombo had an impressive run before beating Montfort with a low drive. Pieta failed to react and Qormi continued to attack in the remaining minutes going close again with a deflected Yankam effort.
Three minutes into the second half Pieta were reduced to ten men when captain Christian Grech received a second booking. From the resultant freekick Montfort made a great save off Luke Busuttil. On 58 minutes Qormi practically sealed the issue with a third goal when Dejan Vukovic fired home after a fine run by Busuttil.
The match was now dead and buried with Qormi in full control and with Pieta resigned for the inevitable defeat.On 78 minutes Caetano Da Silva was unlucky when his shot hit the upright, and two minutes later Caetano was not to be denied when he shot home the rebound after Montfort had made two great saves off shots from Guzman and Yankam.
Pieta H: M. Montfort, T. Bartolo, J. Ruiz Perez, C. Grech, R. Grixti, Q. Bregman (C. Degabriele 62 min), A. Mizzi (N. Pisani 78 min), N. Pace Cocks, G. Mensah, J. Busuttil (D. Agius 62 min), J.M. Artiaga.
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, J. Caetano Da Silva (I. Zammit 87 min), Y. Yankam (K. Spiteri 87 min), L. Busuttil (T. Guzman 77 min), D. Vukovic, L. Adamec, B. Grech, A. Abela, C. Matombo, M. Camilleri, A. Cassar.
Referee: Stefan Pace
Promoted sides prove a point
Zabbar SP 1
Qrendi 1
Promoted sides Qrendi and Zabbar contimued to impress in this opening phase of the season with yet another brilliant performance that produced an exciting 1-1 draw, with both goals scored after the break.
Qrendi had more of the ball and the better scoring opportunities, especially in the dying seconds when ten-man Zabbar faded out completely, but the draw result was a fair one as Alfred Attard's boys did not deserve to leave the pitch empty handed.
Qrendi had a glorious chance after barely sixty seconds play when Nakamura passed towards Kenneth Abela who in turn passed towards Dassier Sammut who all alone in front of goal failed to beat Grech.
Qrendi continued to dictate matters and on nine minutes Kenneth Abela nodded down towards Nakamura who tested Grech with a fierce drive from the edge of the area. Qrendi were surely the better side in the first half, having more possession of the ball and with Zabbar always on the defnsive.
However Zabbar were menacing in their breaks even if they missed the final touch in the last twentu meter. On 23 minutes Qrendi went close again with a Santos Da Hora effort hitting the side netting, and six minutes later Zabbar had their best chance when Stewart passed towards Kurt Borg whose effort was blocked by goalkeeper Azzopardi.
Just before the break Zabbar appealed for a penalty when Kurt Borg was floored by Peter Mrvic, just outside the box, or maybe inside too, but the referee opted for the freekick outside the area.
Eight minutes into the second half Qrendi took the lead when Mark Farrugia crossed from the right towards the inspired Nakamura who beat Grech with a low drive from close range. Zabbar had an immediate reaction with a Kurt Borg effort saved by Azzopardi.
On 73 minutes Zabbar drew level when Kurt Borg's fine run on the right was finished with a fierce drive that was partially saved by Azzopardi and Christian Stewart was on hand to drill home the rebound.
Four minutes from time Zabbar were reduced to ten men when Dillon Pace received a second booking. Deep in stoppage time Qrendi almost snatched a dramatic winner when goalkeeper Grech saved his side off two point blank efforts from Nakamura
Żabbar SP: J. Grech, A. Pulis (S. Cesare 46 min), N. Falzon, D. Pace, K. Sacco, A. Azzopardi (C. Camilleri 55 min), S. Diacono (G. Tabone 61 min), C. Stewart, K. Cutajar, K. Borg, C. Magro.
Qrendi: J. Azzopardi, M. Farrugia, B. Bondin, P. Mrvic, D. Santos Da Hora, Z. Bowman, D. Sammut (A. Agius 56 min), L. Scorfna (J. Fenech 69 min), E. Amaira, S. Nakamura, K. Abela (J. Spiteri 66 min).
Referee: Jude Amin Utulu