Qormi 4

Mosta 1

Qormi: M. Farrugia (S. Sultana), J. Chetcuti, R. Sammut (S. Wellman), M. Bartolo, J. Farrugia (C. Farrugia), K. Scicluna, F. Mirarchi, J. Bondin, J. Pereira, A. Bello-Osagie, D. Nwoke

Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, L. Martinelli, F. Tisbi, B. Agius (K. Farrugia), N. Bogdanovic, S. Grech, A. Mello da Silva (A. Cini), F. Aboulezz (Y. Ossok), I. Zammit, M. Mvondo

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst.refs: M. Debono, A. Grech

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: D. Nwoke 5, J. Farrugia 42, A. Bello-Osagie 50, 60, M. Mvondo 73

Yellow cards: S. Grech, R. Sammut, B. Agius, J. Chetcuti

Red card: F. Tisbi

Player of the match: Joseph Farrugia (Qormi)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Farrugia 2. A. Bell-Osagie 3. M. Mvondo

Attendance: 804

Goals apart, the most talked-about episode in this match was undoubtedly the sending off of Mosta’ defender Francesco Tisbi five minutes before the break which had a bearing on the final outcome. Trailing by an early Nwoke goal, Mosta were severely punished when Pereira charged from midfield towards the Mosta area and Tisbi pulled his shirt in the process but stopped the Qormi forward with a neat tackle just outside the area although Pereira fell under the challenge.

The referee, who was away from the action, showed Tisbi a straight red card and awarded Qormi the free kick, from which captain Joseph Farrugia doubled his side’s lead.

Mosta, who until then had been moving the ball smartly, craving for openings in the Qormi rearguard with Aboulezz their main danger, never recovered and conceded two more goals from Bello-Osagie in the second half that completely undone them.

Their late consolation goal served only for statistical purposes.

By virtue of this win, their fifth of the season, Qormi now lift themselves in third place, level with Floriana, who however have tomorrow’s match in hand.

Both teams were on a high after good wins – Mosta beat Sliema Wanderers and Qormi won against Marsaxlokk – the previous week and did not make changes to their starting line-ups.

As expected, Qormi did the early running and took only five minutes to forge ahead. Pereira sent a low cross past two Mosta defenders, the ball slightly deflected by the grounded keeper Debono for Daniel Nwoke to tap it in from close range.

Qormi kept up the pressure and forced a couple of corners as Mosta only showed up with a Melo da Silva shot from a distance going over.

On 19 minutes a Farrugia free kick was tipped over the bar by keeper Debono and from another free kick of his, Pereira skied the ball in front of goal.

As the half unfolded, Mosta came up with some threat of their own. Towards the half hour, Mvondo ran in from the left and sent a cross shot but Zammit arrived fractionally late. And on 36 minutes, Aboulezz’s free kick took a deflection off the Qormi wall and the ball thumped against the bar.

Five minutes from the break, the episode that brought about Mosta defender Tisbi’s dismissal, also enabled Qormi to double their lead with Joseph Farrugia’s well executed ensuing direct free kick at the top right hand corner.

Mosta were forced to change. Ossok went in for Aboulezz and Agius was substituted by Kane Farrugia.

But Qormi could make their numerical superiority tell and on 50 minutes Bartolo, with an intelligent splitting pass, put Bello-Osagie clear inside the Mosta area to beat keeper Debono with a low diagonal drive.

On the hour, Qormi put the issue beyond doubt with their fourth goal. From a Pereira corner from the right, Bello-Osagie scored at the near post with a glancing header from a tight angle.

On 66 minutes, the young under-21 international Steve Sultana was given some rare playing minutes in the Premier League as he went in for Matthew Farrugia in the Qormi goal.

Sultana was beaten short of a quarter hour from the end as Mosta pulled a consolation goal. Substitute Cini was blocked inside the Qormi area and the ball fell to Maki Mvondo who lifted it over the onrushing keeper at the far end.

Mosta went close again only a minute later. Zammit provided a good pass from the byeline on the right but Mvondo failed to put it on target.

Qormi had given a training-ground feel to the proceedings but still carved out the last chance on 84 minutes as Bello Osagie ran down the left and passed to Pereira whose effort was blocked into a corner by keeper Debono to save his side from further decision.