M’Xlokk 1

Qormi 2

Marsaxlokk: C. Cassar, M. Valeriani, C. Brincat (S. Borg), T. Templeman, J. Brincat, N. Staskovic, S. Eboh, J.P. Farrugia, G. Caruana (L. Agius), P. Oladutun (G. Buttigieg), A. Pedroza

Qormi: M. Farrugia, M. Bartolo, J. Farrugia, L. Sciberras, K. Scicluna, F. Mirarchi, J. Pereira, J. Bondin, T. Caruana, S. Wellman (G. Chircop), V. Kouadio

Referee: M. Spiteri

Asst.refs: T. Debono, R. Vella

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: A. Pedroza 32, J. Pereira 37, T. Caruana 45+

Yellow cards: T. Templeman, S. Eboh, J. Farrugia, T. Caruana, P. Oladutun, C. Brincat

Red card: T. Templeman

Player of the match: J. Farrugia (Qormi)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Farrugia 2. J. Pereira 3. C. Cassar

Despite their narrow win over bottom side Marsaxlokk, Qormi still failed to make it into the Championship Pool as the team two points above them, Balzan Youths, also won against Tarxien Rainbows, in the match played simultaneously at the Victor Tedesco stadium.

Qormi’s fate was not entirely in their hands. They had to beat Marsaxlokk and hope Balzan lose or else draw to force at least a decider.

In the process, Marsaxlokk, who were down to ten men after only 22 minutes, gave a decent challenge although, not for the first time this season, they let an early lead slip away.

Both teams were coming from previous defeats and the respective coaches deemed it fit to tinker with their line-ups.

Qormi had Joseph Chetcuti and Roderick Sammut suspended while Bello-Osagie and Thackray were not fully fit. Stephen Wellman was surprisingly deployed as the main striker, with Luke Sciberras, Kenneth Scicluna and Federico Mirarchi all back in the side. Suguino was again named among the substitutes.

Marsaxlokk also made three changes in defence from the side that lost to Hamrun Spartans. Modesto Valeriani, Jermain Brincat and Sunday Eboh were given the nod ahead of Patrick Borg, Luke Agius and the injured Craig Debattista.

Qormi showed more urgency in the opening stages, as befitted their table position.

The Marsaxlokk keeper Cassar had to rush off his line to thwart Pereira when put through after only two minutes. Then Triston Caruana’s goalbound effort on a Joseph Farrugia free kick was cleared off the line by Eboh’s spectacular overhead kick and on seven minutes Farrugia’s free kick was held out by keeper Cassar.

On the other end, a testing cross from the left by Oladutun found no support.

Qormi again looked menacing with a Caruana cross shot that clipped the bar.

On 22 minutes, Marsaxlokk were reduced to ten men after skipper Trevor Templeman received his marching orders for two bookings.

That made it pretty easier for Qormi who however continued to fluff chances as another Joseph Farrugia free kick went narrowly wide.

On 25 minutes Qormi had what looked like a legitimate claim for a penalty ignored by the referee when Eboh looked to have controlled a high ball inside the area with the help of his arm.

The goal surprisingly came on the other end on 32 minutes. Oladutun provided the cross from the left and Alex Pedrozo slotted the ball coolly past the stranded keeper Matthew Farrugia.

Qormi took only five minutes to draw level. Joseph Farrugia played a pass forward to Jorge Pereira who shrugged off Eboh’s challenge to beat keeper Cassar with a low diagonal shot.

Qormi kept up the initiative and towards halftime Wellman failed to hit in Pereira’s cross, with the Marsaxlokk keeper out of place.

The goal came in the half’s added time though. On a Pereira corner, Wellman played the ball back to Triston Caruana who scored with a low drive.

Qormi should have taken a boost with their advantage, but, although enjoying more of the possession, they lacked the slightest hint of penetration after the restart.

Quite understandable, though not excusable, the news that Balzan were leading against Tarxien in the other match, might have disheartened the Qormi players.

They continued to show some excessive profligacy in front of the Marasaxlokk goal when on 65 minutes, on Joseph Farrugia’s inviting free kick, the unmarked Wellman hit incredulously wide.

Qormi were nearly made to pay for that miss as two minutes later Oladutun ran dangerously inside the area from the byeline but was providentially blocked into a corner by Scicluna.

And, luckily for Qormi, Jean Paul Farrugia failed to make contact to a Valeriani free kick on 78 minutes.

With central defender Brincat limping off, the Marsaxlokk young keeper denied Qormi in the late stages. He blocked Joseph Farrugia, as he made his way inside the area, and then he superbly turned Pereira’s blistering shot into a corner. Again he denied the Brazilian as he tried to lob the ball to win his spurs in yet another honourable defeat for Marsaxlokk.