Qormi 2

Vittoriosa S 2

Qormi: M. Farrugia (M. Camilleri), M. Borg Olivier (G. Buttigieg), S. Giglio (M. Bartolo), R. Sammut, K. Fenech, J. Chetcuti, C. Karamanolis, J. Bondin, C. Frendo, J. Farrugia, J. Souza

Vittoriosa S: J. Vella, J. Camilleri, P. Aquilina (A. Tabone), C. Compagnoli, J. Xerri, M. Maccari, D. Cachia, R. Grech, L. Grech, J. Silva, A. Ewurum (L. Edison)

Referee: C. Pisani asst.refs: A. Camilleri, J. Camilleri 4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: J. Silva 59, A. Ewurum 60, J. Souza 81, J. Farrugia 85 pen

Yellow cards: P. Aquilina, R. Sammut

Player of the match: L. Grech (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Ewurum 2. C. Frendo 3. L. Grech

Qormi might have lacked conviction for too long in this bottom of the table clash against Vittoriosa Stars and looked heading towards another disappointing defeat, trailing their opponents by two goals. But with ten minutes remaining, they were allowed back into the game with a Souza goal and a Joseph Farrugia penalty who ensured Qormi claimed the result they needed to seal safety in the Premier League.

And so farewell to Vittoriosa, whose puffing and huffing this season has been admirable, although they lacked the muscle to blow down enough Premier League houses.

They went down fighting but could be aggrieved for blowing away a two-goal lead and then squandering an added time Edison penalty that could have won them a match with a dramatic ending.

Courtesy of Qormi’s jittery defence, Vittoriosa always looked more dangerous going forward and scored two goals within a minute that seemed enough to secure a win and keep hoping. It was not to be!

Qormi were strengthened by the return of some key players like Jonathan Bondin, Cleaven Frendo and Roderick Sammut. The latter played in defence after a long lay off but was given a tough time trying to block the forays of Anthony Ewurum and Leighton Grech.

Qormi had Vandelanoite and Kang suspended while Michael Mifsud and Matthew Bartolo were not fully fit and started on the bench.

Vittoriosa still preferred Jean Vella in goal. Steve Wellman and Luis Edison were both included as substitutes after returning from suspension.

Vittoriosa made the more assertive start, with an Ewurum cross from the right and Silva lofting the ball over the bar.

Ewurum again went down the right flank but his cross found nobody to make contact.

Qormi remained composed and carved two openings midway through the half. A Frendo freekick rebounded off the Vittoriosa wall and the same player hit the loose ball narrowly wide. Then Borg Olivier ran in well for Frendo’s pass but his fierce drive was blocked by keeper Vella.

Vittoriosa, who did more of the running with little productivity, went close again towards the end of the half. Leighton Grech’s free kick was cleared by the Qormi defence but Silva shot wide. Compagnoli’s low free kick went tantalisingly wide.

The quality of play did not improve much in the second half but Vittoriosa always showed more determination and two goals in quick succession towards the hour saw them shift the match in their favour. Leighton Grech played a deep cross from the left for Jorge Silva to tower himself and head past the helpless keeper Farrugia.

Hardly a minute later, Leighton Grech again played the ball forward through the middle for Anthony Ewurum to beat Joseph Farrugia’s challenge and flick the ball past the keeper. Giglio had been receiving treatment on the sidelines by then.

That double lead gave the Stars good reason to believe they can win the match, especially when Leighton Grech again presented himself inside the Qormi area with relative ease on 65 minutes but this time he was foiled by keeper Farrugia.

Two minutes later Matthew Farrugia was replaced by Matthew Camilleri in goal and on 69 minutes even Giglio left the field with a bandaged thigh. In went Bartolo.

Qormi jerked into shape in the final quarter hour. When Souza picked a Vittoriosa clearance, his shot took a deflection off team mate Frendo.

Vittoriosa suffered a setback on 78 minutes when their prime dangerman, Ewurum was stretchered off.

Qormi pulled one back three minutes later. The Stars’ defence failed to clear a Bartolo corner and as the ball fell straight at the feet of Josue Souza, he blasted it in from close range to resolve the goalmouth scramble.

Then Frendo beat the Vittoriosa square defence but keeper Vella stretched himself to hold out his goalbound effort.

By then the tide had shifted dramatically in Qormi’s favour.

With five minutes remaining, Qormi managed to clinch an equaliser when awarded a penalty after defender Aquilina felled Chetcuti inside the area on the left. Curiously, Aquilina headed straight to the dressing room, assuming that a second caution of the match and thus dismissal would follow. The referee though chased him to call him back to the field.

After that, Joseph Farrugia tucked away the penalty to the uproar of Qormi’s jubiliant supporters.

The match offered more drama and controversy in added time. On the other end, Vittoriosa were themselves awarded a penalty on assistant Joseph Camilleri’s flagging when substitute Edison fell when he came in contact with Karamanolis after the referee was about to punish the Vittoriosa forward instead.

The change in decision brought wrath among the Qormi players and the bench, but luckily for them, Edison shot his penalty feebly in keeper Camilleri’s hands to put the curtain down on Vittoriosa’s stay in the Premier League.