Qormi-Birkirkara 0-2

A match which started as a slow burner, hardly offering any noteworthy episode in the first half, had a tempestuous ending as Birkirkara scored their goals, one at the start and the other at the end of the second period to beat Qormi 2-0 and keep up their title challenge alive.

In spells, Qormi betrayed the gloom which has settled into their side but it was not hard to see why they have lost all their last three matches. Disturbingly short of penetration, they are without a goal in all three.

Yesterday, both Effiong and Camilo were reduced to near invisibility and their dream start to the season is rapidly turning into a nightmare. Qormi had defender Jonathan Bondin sent off in the late stages when Birkirkara’s onslaught was causing them plenty of problems. Only some superlative goalkeeping by Matthew Farrugia kept Qormi in the match, otherwise dominated by the Stripes.

Injuries and suspensions forced coach Paul Zammit to tinker with the Birkirkara line-up. Joseph Zerafa started the match instead of the injured Vukanac (hamstring) in central defence while Thomas Paris made way for the returning Angus Buhagiar at right back. With Paul Fenech and Branco Nisevic both suspended, Andrew Scicluna as centre back, and midfielder Alan Tabone were given the nod.

On their part, Qormi only had Ryan Deguara unavailable through suspension, but otherwise they fielded their standard line-up, with the exception of Keith Fenech, preferred to Stefan Giglio, who was named among the substitutes.

In a boring first half, littered with football of the most pathetic quality, both sides were unable to put a single effort on target and the best they could offer was a Comvalius free kick over and a Buhagiar header over the bar and a Bartolo grounder, flicked by Effiong.

What Birkirkara failed to do during the entire first 45 minutes, they did in the first 15 of the second half. Hardly three minutes after the restart, Tabone’s shot was turned around into a corner by the Qormi keeper. From the resultant corner, Michael Galea headed in via the underside of the bar.

Once they unblocked, Birkirkara started to mount the pressure. Galea failed to connect on a Bajada free kick in front of goal. A Comvalius header on a Cilia cross from the right was repelled by keeper Farrugia. And towards the hour, Cilia hit a Comvalius cross first time but the Qormi keeper again saved into a corner.

That heralded Birkirkara’s best spell, during which Qormi looked disjointed and out of sorts.

On 66 minutes, George Mallia made his return for Birkirkara, as substitute for Tabone, after a long lay off through injury.

Birkirkara remained the more dominant and on 72 minutes they had legitimate claims for a penalty turned down by the referee after Galea, put through by Comvalius, was tackled from behind by Wellmann inside the area. The Qormi defender went unpunished.

The final 10 minutes were hectic. Birkirkara increased the pressure but were frustrated time and again by the Qormi keeper Farrugia who spared his side from further derision.

Farrugia did well to deflect the ball into a corner when Cilia was clear and then again thwarted Mallia as Cilia shot the rebound off target.

Substitute Pulo twice was denied by the Qormi shot stopper.

With full time looming, Qormi were still one down and still in the game. Ironically, substitute Meilak had the best chance to draw level, when the ball fell into his path but keeper Mora blocked his effort.

Deep into five minutes of added time, Qormi’s defender Bondin received his marching orders when he blatantly fouled the advancing Cilia just outside the Qormi area. George Mallia finally beat keeper Farrugia with the resultant direct free kick to keep Birkirkara well on track.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, S. Wellman, R. Dos Santos, K. Fenech, M. Grima (S. Giglio), J. Farrugia, M. Bartolo (S. Meilak), A. Effiong, C. Da Silva

Birkirkara: J. Mora, T. Cilia, A, Scicluna, S. Bajada, J. Zerafa, A. Buhagiar, R. Muscat, C. Mamo, A. Tabone (G. Mallia), M. Galea (K. Pulo), S. Comvalius (T. Paris)

Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: J. Camilleri, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: M. Galea, G. Mallia

Yellow cards: S. Wellman, J. Zerafa, A. Scicluna, A. Buhagiar, S. Giglio, R. Muscat

Red card: J. Bondin

Player of the match: Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: 1. M. Galea 2. M. Farrugia 3. R. Muscat