Birkirkara 2
Qormi 1
Birkirkara: K. Naumovski, D. Chapoval, M. Guillaumier, P. Fenech, P. Orlandic (M. Beerman 87), J. Grech (N. Micallef 90), K. Zammit, E. Ferreira, CA Rodriguez (E. Herrera 75), C. Attard, M. Franca
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, F. Gnindokponou (M. Camilleri 75), D. Mansi, Y. Yankam, S. Kim, A. Abela, M. Borg, D. Kabeya, A. Ferreira, I. Zammit, T. Gusman (L. Busuttil 63)
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst refs: A. Camilleri, D. Stankovic
4th official: D. Casha
Scorers: P. Orlandic 10, T. Gusman 30, J. Grech 64
Yellow cards: K. Zammit 20, M. Guillaumier 42, P. Orlandic 57
BOV Player of the match: Jake Grech
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Grech, 2. D. Mansi, 3. P. Fenech
Attendance: 238
Birkirkara were made to fight harder than expected to beat relegation threatened Qormi yesterday evening.
Orlandic gave the Stripes a good start as he made the most of an error by goalie Azzopardi. Qormi hit back to equalise. Jake Grech scored Birkirkara's second midway through the second half.
Qormi missed a glaring opportunity for a second equaliser 11 minutes from the end, when they missed a penalty through substitute Michael Camilleri.
The victory enabled Birkirkara to move to 5th place in the standings on 21 points, ahead of the remaining 12th round matches to be played between today and tomorrow.
In the first half, Birkirkara enjoyed the lion's share of the proceedings, but apart from the gift goal from Qormi goalie Azzopardi, they rarely appeared dangerous in front of goal before they finally threatened twice near the end of the half.
Qormi defended with purpose and closed all gaps leading to their goal. Moreover, they were far more dangerous in their fewer counterattacks with Kim, Gnindokponou and Ferreira proving more than a handful for the Birkirkara defence.
In the second half, remained superior in midfield, but apart from an early scoring chance, they failed to threaten the Qormi fort before they eventually took the lead for a second time.
Qormi hit back and had a good chance to equalise following a controversial penalty award which was eventually missed by Camilleri as Naumovski saved Birkirkara's victory.
In the 10th minute, Birkirkara took the lead with a great gift goal from goalie Azzopardi. His bad clearance was stopped by Petar Orlandic who lobbed into the net with great ease.
Qormi's reply arrived on 12 minutes. A Kim dangerous cross was cleared by Ferreira to corner.
And on 16 minutes, Alexsandro Ferreira was close to an equaliser, but his close range effort was blocked to another corner by Chapoval.
Qormi deservedly equalised on 30 minutes. From a Gnindokponou cross, a Ferreira shot was blocked by the Birkirkara defence, but Tensior Gusman was close by to hit home.
On 36 minutes, from a Paul Fenech good pass, Jake Grech dribbled round his direct opponent, but his effort went wide of the goalpost.
Four minutes later, it was Franca who entered the Qormi area on the left, only to fire wide of the post.
Before the interval, Birkirkara almost regained the lead, first from a corner from which the ball was cleared from over the goal-line, and then Azzopardi redeemed himself from the earlier error which led to the Stripes' goal, as he saved a shot from Jake Grech turning in style to corner.
Early in the second half, from a Grech freekick a Guillaumier header was cleared from over the line by Mansi.
On the hour a Franca freekick was easily saved by Azzopardi, but on 64 minutes, the Stripes took the lead once again. An Orlandic shot was blocked by a Qormi defender. The ball went to Jake Grech who controlled well before firing home past a helpless Azzopardi.
In the 79th minute, Qormi were awarded a penalty when Ferreira appeared to have pushed substitute Arrieta in the area, but from the spotkick, Michael Camilleri saw his effort brilliantly saved by goalie Naumovski.