Qormi 0

Mqabba 1

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

Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Potezica, B. Timotic, M.A. Psaila, M. Briffa (S. Magro), D. Azzopardi, T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja (C. Micallef), R. Duca, B. Mamic (J.P. Muscat)

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, E. Spiteri

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: B. Mamic 54

Yellow cards: B. Mamic, M.A. Psaila, J. Chetcuti, L. Sciberras, J. Silva

Player of the match: Marlon Briffa (Mqabba)

TMI top 3: 1. T. Mazitelli 2. M. Briffa 3. M. Potezica

Mqabba defeated Qormi courtesy of a Bojan Mamic goal shortly after the interval. This narrow, but deserved third win of the season, lifts Mqabba on equal points with Qormi and Birkirkara on the ten-point mark.

Both teams were trying to rediscover winning ways after Qormi had drawn against Floriana and, worse still, Mqabba had lost against Valletta in the previous games.

Mqabba showed more determination to take the play to their opponents. At times they impressed with a performance full of energy and industry, although lacking a cutting edge. In fact they accumulated enough chances to have won by a bigger margin as Qormi’s was largely a bitter display, profligate in possession, slow in their build-ups and toothless in front of goal.

Mqabba’s wing play put the Qormi rearguard under some sustained pressure. Briffa’s cross shot from the right after 10 minutes found nobody to connect. Past the quarter hour, Mamic mishit in front of goal on a Mazitelli corner. The latter was nearly always involved in his side’s build-ups. On 20 minutes he went past three Qormi players but completely missed the target with his final shot. Mazitelli again tested keeper Farrugia with a shot from a distance four minutes later.

Mqabba’s best chance in the first half came on 37 minutes when Calleja played a through ball to Mamic, whose goal bound effort was deflected by keeper Farrugia against the bar.

Mqabba though took a deserved lead nine minutes into the second half. Duca played a through ball to Bojan Mamic and the Serb forward beat keeper Farrugia with a low diagonal shot.

Qormi failed to make a reaction and Mqabba maintained the initiative. For all their possession, however, the newcomers squandered several opportunities that could have brought them that assuring second goal.

Towards the hour, Mamic ran in for Mazitelli’s return pass, his shot was blocked by the keeper and Calleja hit the upright from the loose ball.

Qormi tried to regroup in the late stages, but were themselves guilty of profligacy inside the Mqabba area, especially Nwoke and Bello-Osagie who had an off day.

On 88 minutes, Joseph Farrugia’s exquisite free kick went tantalisingly wide, with the Mqabba keeper Kris Calleja rooted to his line.

Mqabba should have also scored their second goal on a fast break in added time. Substitute Magro played the ball to the unmarked Mamic, who rounded an opponent and the keeper but put his shot wastefully wide.

But that counted little as Mqabba still won thanks to Mamic’s only goal of the match.