Hamrun Spartans 2

Qormi 3

An enjoyable match saw in-form Qormi twice surrender the lead to gallant Hamrun Spartans, only to win an added time penalty and claim a dramatic victory that keeps up their momentum, despite the fact that their performance yesterday was not so emphatic as against Tarxien Rainbows the previous week.

All credit to Hamrun, who did not deserve to lose yesterday.

Aware that they could not afford to frop more points, the Spartans were more flamboyant than usual. Calabretta looked lively on the flank, although he faded out in the second period. Rupert Mangion and Kevin Sammut were industrious in midfield, sparking better movement by Ribeiro, with Massimo Grima solid and composed as always. The Spartans need more cutting edge up front as the goals have dried up for Gaetan Spiteri.

Spurned by their noisy and colourful fans, who turned out in good number at Ta’ Qali, Qormi had Nigerian forward Daniel Nwoke making his first league appearance in the more advanced role and celebrated with a goal. But that would not have been possible without the movement of those around him.

With Bello-Osagie and Matthew Bartolo pushing forward from the flanks and Jorge Pereira exploiting space through the middle, Hamrun’s rearguard, with Roderick Fenech back after injury and Carlo Polli again as right back, was always in for a hard time.

The Spartans, who had Luis Silva missing through injury, made the more assertive start. After only two minutes, the Qormi keeper Matthew Farrugia was the first to be tested, holding out Calabretta curling shot. Spiteri’s effort on the rebound was blocked by defender Scicluna.

But Qormi made the breakthrough at the other end five minutes later. Hamrun’s defence was caught on the hop as Pereira played the ball forward to Luke Sciberras, beating the offside trap. The flag did not go up and the youngster gleefully lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper Borg.

Qormi should have doubled their lead ten minutes later. Pereira pounced on an intelligent Bartolo through pass and was clear inside the Hamrun area but the keeper did well to block into a corner.

On Bartolo’s cross, Fenech lost the ball to Pereira who hit the side netting.

Past the half hour, Hamrun regrouped. Spiteri went through on Fenech’s pass. He outpaced his marker but was foiled by the keeper inside the area, only for Scicluna to clear into safety before the Hamrun forward could capitalise.

Then the advancing Fenech had an effort going high.

The Spartans were handed a lifeline on the stroke of halftime. Calabretta’s deep cross from the left was poorly fisted out by keeper Farrugia. The ball fell straight to the unmarked Massimo Grima who flicked it in with the outstep, hitting the inner side of the post.

A lull of sorts was reached at the start of the second half as both sides were neglecting any panache by then.

Grima’s free kick was held out by keeper Farrugia followed by Qormi’s sudden burst on 62 minutes that saw them regain the lead.

Bello-Osagie played a through ball to Daniel Nwoke. With the tenacity to complement his skill, the Nigeria beat the challenge of Gacesa as he raced through the middle and unleashed an unstoppable shot.

Hamrun introduced Porcari for the exhausted Mangion. On 72 minutes Polli picked Spiteri’s pass and his shot clipped the bar.

Four minutes later, they drew level. Ribeiro advanced from the byeline on the left and cut a cross back for the unhindered Kevin Sammut to shoot low past keeper Farrugia.

The match was heading towards a fair draw when in three minutes of added time, defender Gacesa felled Pereira inside the area to concede a penalty which captain Joseph Farrugia duly tucked away to give Qormi a dramatic victory and break Hamrun’s hearts.

Hamrun S: O. Borg, N. Gacesa, M. Grima, R. Fenech, R. Mangion (C. Toneto Porcari), M. Gauci, C. Polli, K. Sammut, G. Calabretta, G. Spiteri, A. Ribeiro (L. Agius)

Coach: J. Zammit

Qormi: M. Farrugia, J. Chetcuti (D. Cachia), R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Farrugia, D. Nwoke (G. Buttigieg), L. Sciberras, K. Scicluna, J. Pereira, S. Wellman, A. Bello-Osagie (J. Chetcuti)

Coach: S. Azzopardi

Scorers: L. Sciberras 7, M. Grima 45, D. Nwoke 62, K. Sammut 76, J. Farrugia 90+ pen

Yellow cards: M. Bartolo, R. Mangion, D. Nwoke, A. Ribeiro

Player of the match: M. Bartolo (Qormi)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Bello-Osagie 2. M. Grima 3. A. Ribeiro

Attendance: 1,497