A spectacular free kick from Joseph Farrugia at the start of the second half and two other goals from Jorge Pereira and the same Farrugia in added time were enough for Qormi to secure the first three points in a lacklustre match, characterized by many stoppages, eight bookings and a sending off.

All goals deserved a better stage and were the main highlights in an otherwise shambolic affair.

The match’s turning point was undoubtedly the sending off of Balzan’s best player, Brazilian Pedro Calcado at the start of the second half and Qormi capitalized to turn the match in their favour.

Qormi introduced latest signing Kenneth Scicluna at the centre of their defence and had Joseph Chetcuti, back from suspension, starting in midfield. Dino Cachia and Steve Wellman started on the bench but the latter went in for the injured Karamanolis after 20 minutes, and the former for the injured Roderick Sammut shortly before the break.

Balzan also made one change to the side which lost against Hamrun in the first match. They gave a start to new recruit from Sliema Wanderers, Miguel Ciantar, dropping Ciscaldi to the bench.

In a sterile first half, with very little goalmouth action, Balzan went closer with a ninth-minute Calsado free kick which keeper Farrugia stretched himself to turn into a corner. Before the quarter hour, their Albanian defender Guga limped off and Bazlan were forced to substitute him with Jonathan Francica.

Qormi’s only noteworthy episode came towards the half hour from Pereira’s solo move towards the Balzan goal, blocked by keeper Matthew Camilleri.

Luckily, the second half was more eventful. Qormi broke the deadlock after five minutes when Pereira won a free kick on the edge of the area towards the left. Captain Joseph Farrugia beat the Balzan keeper at top corner with a perfect execution.

To rub salt into their wounds, Balzan were down to ten men on 52 minutes when Calcado’s retaliation on Bondin earned him a second caution and eventually was dismissed.

This was a harsh blow for Balzan, who lost their main force of creativity and they never recovered. Qormi were finding more space in which to manouvre and the introduction of Bello-Osagie for the last 20 minutes added more anxious moments to the Youths’ defence. His surging run and final shot had keeper Camilleri saving before Qormi added two more goals within four minutes of added time. Jorge Pereira capitalized on Balzan’s defensive lapse and beat keeper Camilleri with a blistering low left foot shot.

The Balzan keeper was rendered helpless again two minutes later as captain Joseph Farrugia steaded himself and unleashed an unstoppable shot at the top left hand corner.

Qormi M. Farrugia, J. Chtcuti, R. Sammut (D. Cachia), M. Bartolo, G. Chircop, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, C. Karamanolis (S. Wellman), K. Scicluna, J. Bondin (A. Bello-Osagie), J. Pereira

Coach S. Azzopardi

Balzan Y M. Camilleri, C. Ciantar, R. Forace, B. Guga (J. Francica), Y. Camilleri, N. Tasic, D. Grima, M. Ciantar (D. Fenech), L. Micallef, P. Calcado, D. Sibalin (S. Ciscaldi)

Coach I. Zammit

Referee A.M. Sant

Asst.refs A. Camilleri, M. Scerri

4th official F. Zammit

Scorers J. Farrugia 49, 90, J. Pereira 90+

Yellow cards Y. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, P. Calcado, D. Sibalin, J. Bondin, M. Francica, C. Ciantar, G. Chircop

Red card P. Calcado

Player of the match Joseph Farrugia (Qormi)

TMI top 3 1. J. Pereira 2. J. Farrugia 3. J. Bondin

Attendance 1065