Sliema W. 4

Qormi 1

Sliema W: V. Szentpeteri, J. Briffa, M. Scerri (N. Turner), J.P. Mifsud Triganza, M. Ciantar (O. Obiefule), S. Bezzina, J. Lima, C. Lachkhem (J. Mintoff), B. Muscat, C. Failla, E. Barbara

Qormi: M. Farrugia, S. Giglio, M. Bartolo (I. Vazani), K. Fenech (C. Farrugia), J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, C. Karamonolis, H. Kang, G. Buttigieg, S. Agius (J. Gerada), J. Souza

Referee: M. Borg Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono 4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: M. Ciantar 18, C. Karamanolis 33, C. Lachkhem 72, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 77, O. Obiefule 89

Yellow cards: H.Kang, E. Barbara

Player of the match: E. Barbara (Qormi)

TMI top 3: 1. C. Failla 2. O. Obiefule 3. H. Kang

Qormi failed to secure a win that would have relieved their spirits from relegation fears. Following Vittoriosa Stars’ win on Friday, the gap between the two bottom teams is now down to five points, and with two matches remaining, including next week’s direct clash, the relegation issue has been put on hold for at least another week.

Qormi were depleted with injuries and suspensions, with Jason Vandelainoit, Jonathan Bondin, Michael Mifsud, Cleaven Frendo and Bello-Osagie among their most notable absentees yesterday.

With nothing tangible to play for, Sliema also made some changes to their side. Josef Mifsud and Gatt Baldacchino were missing from the squad.Viktor Szentpeteri returned in goal for Bonello, with Julian Briffa and Steve Bezzina their two centre backs. Obiefule, Mintoff and Turner went in as substitutes after injuries to Ciantar, Lachkhem and Scerri forced coach Doncic to reshuffle his team further during the course of the match.

Etienne Barbara, making his last appearance for the Wanderers before rejoining his team in the States, was handed the captain’s armband for this match.

Sliema fully exploited their opponents’ frailties in defence, although the midfield provided little cover, with most of the embarrassment coming from Failla’s forays from behind, down Sliema’s left flank, and Obiefule’s and Barbara’s delivery of crosses which had Qormi almost always on the backfoot.

Qormi’s early flurry produced little, if anything, to trouble the Sliema defence and for the first quarter hour both keepers needed not be in attendance.

Sliema made the breakthrough on 18 minutes. Miguel Ciantar won a rebound against defender Buttigieg to move clear inside the area and beat the keeper with an intelligent strike.

Ciantar limped off on 24 minutes and four minutes later, the same fate befell Qormi’s Bartolo who was substituted by Vazani.

Although utterly void of ideas and their attack blunted, Qormi drew level on 33 minutes from a set piece. On a Joseph Farrugia free kick from the left, Cristos Karamanolis was allowed space to beat keeper Szentpeteri at the far post with a glancing header.

Sliema looked better in the half’s latter stages. Barbara advanced dangerously down the left on Mifsud Triganza’a pass, beating Buttigieg on the run, but keeper Matthew Farrugia rushed out to block at his feet. And on a Lima free kick, Lachkhem’s shot was blocked into a corner.

But Qormi carved a good opportunity early in the second half. Souza played a through ball to Chetcuti who tried to beat the onrushing keeper but when pressed tightly, he passed the ball towards Kang, whose shot was blocked into a corner.

Qormi looked like upping the tempo but Sliema countered on 50 minutes. Obiefule went past Buttigieg on the left and crossed for Lachkhem to release Barbara who missed the target.

Qormi’s keeper Farrugia was called to hold out Mifsud Triganza’s shot and the Wanderers looked more menacing when Lachkhem’s shot clipped the bar.

On 58 minutes, Scerri, who had suffered a knock, made way for Turner and on the hour, Lima ran inside the Qormi area with alarming ease, after playing a deft one-two with Lachkhem, but chipped the ball narrowly wide.

Barbara failed to find the target on two consecutive attempts, one blocked and another over, after a Failla free kick had caused panic inside the Qormi area.

On 66 minutes, Sliema also had a Mifsud Triganza goal disallowed, apparently for an offside position, but there was no denying the Wanderers on 72 minutes. Obiefule laid down Barbara’s cross to Chakib Lachkhem to place the ball low beyond the keeper’s reach.

Barbara was the architect of Sliema’s third goal five minutes later, playing a long ball forward from the halfway line for Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to chase and hook before rounding keeper Farrugia and striking the ball into an unattended goal.

With Qormi completely dismantled, Sliema remained totally in control and Qormi could only put in youngsters Jurgen Gerada and Carmelo Farrugia, mostly overlooked throughout the season, in the late stages.

There was still time for Qormi to concede a fourth goal on the stroke of time. Obinna Obiefule advanced through the middle of a static defence and beat Farrugia with a low drive.

In added time, Joseph Farrugia hit the foot of the post with a grounder but that was no consolation as Qormi remain embroiled in the relegation struggle.