Qormi 3

Hamrun S. 0

Qormi: M. Farrugia, Jeff Chetcuti, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Farrugia (D. Cachia), K. Scicluna, F. Mirarchi, J. Bondin (G. Buttigieg), J. Pereira, S. Duff, A. Bello-Osagie (L. Sciberras)

Hamrun S: O. Borg, S. Bonnici, M. Gauci, N. Gacesa (R. Spiteri), M. Grima, R. Mangion (L. Agius), C. Polli, K. Sammut, G. Calabretta, A. Ribeiro (A. Cassar), D. Shields

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, R. Vella

4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: J. Farrugia 33, J. Pereira 66, 77 pen

Yellow cards: J. Farrugia, O. Borg, Jeff Chetcuti, J. Bondin, M. Grima

Red card: O. Borg

Player of the match: J. Farrugia (Qormi)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Farrugia 2. J. Pereira 3. G. Calabretta

Qormi returned to winning ways after three consecutive league defeats, beating Hamrun Spartans by three clear goals yesterday, to move on level points with Birkirkara and Sliema as the latter two play each other this afternoon.

The return of their mentor Joseph Farrugia after injury, consolidated the team. The Qormi captain impressed with a performance full of energy and industry. His opener was beautifully executed, even though he missed a penalty shortly afterwards.

There is a staleness about Hamrun as they linger in the lower end of the table.

The Spartans were an unchanged side, only for the return of Omar Borg in goal after a lengthy absence. Although he saved a first half penalty, the Hamrun custodian marred his contribution by his dismissal ten minutes from time, showing dissent after Qormi had scored their third goal through another penalty.

Qormi enjoyed the better share of possession in the initial stages although they could hardly trouble the Hamrun defence. It was only past the quarter hour that Bartolo put Pereira through. His shot on the run was just tipped by keeper Borg into a corner.

It was only towards the half hour that Hamrun started to move out of their defensive shell, closer to the Qormi goal as a Grima free kick went over the bar and Ribeiro headed Polli’s cross wide. Another Grima header was deflected into a corner, heralding the Spartans’ best patch of the half.

But the goal came at the other end as Qormi struck on 33 minutes. Pereira laid the ball in the path of Joseph Farrugia who beat the Hamrun keeper at the top corner with a left foot drive from outside the area.

Given the fragile confidence within the Hamun side, there was a sense of inevitability that a second goal would follow.

Hardly five minutes later, Pereira sought contact with the grounded keeper Borg as he went inside the area and fell like a crumbling biscuit. The referee awarded Qormi the penalty in what looked like a very harsh decision, only for Borg to make amends and save Joseph Farrugia’s shot from the spot kick, with Bartolo shooting the loose ball wide.

Just before the break, Calabretta’s low shot from the right was repelled with difficulty into a corner by keeper Matthew Farrugia as Qormi maintained their slim lead at halftime.

Hamrun showed some urgency after the restart. Sammut powerful drive was repelled by keeper Farrugia and on 65 minutes Shields arrived fractionally late on Calabretta’s cross from the left after the ball had cut the entire Qormi backline.

But again it was Qormi who scored a minute later. Keeper Borg rushed off his line to block on Bartolo but lost the ball and allowed the Qormi player to cross low for the unmarked Jorge Pereira to shoot in from close range.

Hamrun were rattled. On 76 minutes Shields turned well inside the area but was denied by keeper Farrugia’s reflex save.

The match was over by the 77th minute when Qormi were awarded a second penalty, this time after Hamrun’s defender Bonnici felled Pereira inside the area. The Brazilian steadied himself to score from the spot kick.

The Hamrun keeper, who had already been booked in the first half, was shown a second yellow card for protests and eventually sent off.

Qormi could defend their comfortable lead with minimal difficulty after after effecting all their three substitutions and Hamrun’s reserve keeper Cassar was only severely tested by a Sciberras shot in the dying minutes.