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

Tarxien R.: A. Curmi, M. Caruana, D. Camilleri, E. Pereira, A. M. Ribeiro, M. Tanti, A. DeCesare, D. Rocha dos Santos (G. Calabretta), R. Mintoff, R. Grech (J. Shead), J. Grioli (S. Sadowski).

Referee: C. Lautier Asst refs: I. Spiteri, A. Camilleri, 4th official: A. Arciola.

Scorers: C. da Silva Sanvezzo, M. Bartolo

Yellow cards: J. Grioli, K. Fenech, AM Ribeiro, J. Bondin,

Qormi wrote a golden chapter in the club’s history yesterday as they beat Tarxien Rainbows in the second semi-final of the competition to reach their first ever final.

The yellow-blacks will be facing Valletta in next Sunday’s final and a victory will also give them a direct place in next season’s Europa League. If not they will have to wait for the outcome of their decider with Sliema for the league’s third place.

Two second half goals by Brazilian top striker Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo and Matthew Bartolo saw them conquer Tarxien Rainbows who had appeared to be the better side in the first half.

Both teams had a man suspended – Galea for Tarxien and Effiong for Qormi.

In the first half, it was Tarxien who held a clear edge over their opponents. However, despite all their efforts, especially Anderson Mendes Ribeiro and David Camilleri, they failed miserably in their conclusions, never putting Qormi under any pressure and never creating danger in front of Matthew Farrugia.

Camilleri had to work harder in midfield with Tanti when Denni Rocha dos Santos pulled out injured and it was here that Qormi appeared more adventurous.

Giglio, Fenech and Grima seemed to be taking control of midfield in the latter stages of the half, but Camilo, with Effiong’s support, could do little against a very attentive Tarxien rearguard in which Pereira and Mintoff were impeccable.

In the second half, Qormi appeared to be a transformed side. They were more determined and more aggressive winning many balls at the expense of an erratic Tarxien side.

The Rainbows possibly suffered because of their first half efforts, but it was clear when they lost Dos Santos through injury, they lacked the ideas to penetrate especially with Ribeiro unable to go past his opponents on his own.

And Qormi made the most of the chances they created to score twice through Camilo and Bartolo and ascertain their place in Sunday’s final.

Tarxien had the better start taking the initiative in midfield.

On the second minute, Ribeiro controlled the ball well, but his shot was saved with ease by Farrugia.

Eight minutes later, it was Pereira who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but the ball sailed harmlessly over the Qormi post.

After 14 minutes, off a Dos Santos pass, David Camilleri saw his shot going wide.

Moments later, in Qormi’s first attempt, Massimo Grima had a freekick going wide. Soon after Tarxien goalie Curmi had to rush out of his charge to anticipate Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo.

Tarxien, however, maintained the upper hand and on the 30th minute, they went close with a Ribeiro low shot that missed the target.

Tarxien appealed for a penalty on 41 minutes when substitute Calabretta fell in the area in a tackle with Bondin, but Mr Lautier, close to the action, ignored all the Rainbows’ protests.

As the second half started, Qormi earned a corner from which a Bartolo header was cleared away from under the post by Pereira. Moments later, a Camilo good effort just missed the target.

Tarxien replied with a weak low shot by Ribeiro which was easily saved by Farrugia.

Qormi took the lead on the 55th minute. From a long throw in by Bartolo, the ball was cleared right onto Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo’s feet, who made no mistake with a hard grounder.

Tarxien had a good chance on the hour, but Ryan Grech lifted the ball well over the bar with a shot from the edge of the area.

Tarxien again went close on the 74th minute. This time it was Gianluca Calabretta who went through on the right, but his effort was fisted away by Farrugia.

Qormi almost scored a second on the 79th minute when Farrugia’s shot was partially saved by Curmi. The ball rolled sideways and Camilo, from an acute angle, saw his shot passing across goal to hit the far side of the post with the ball being eventually cleared to safety by the Tarxien defence.

A minute later, however, they managed to score when Bartolo received the ball, advanced into the area and beat Curmi with a low shot, the ball going in via the upright.

In added injury time, there could have been a third one too, but goalie Curmi managed to save a Giglio effort with his feet, after some splendid work by Camilo.

At the end, Qormi’s joy knew no bounds. Finally they are close to lifting their first major honour.