Qormki-Valletta 0-1

Qormi: M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, R. Sammut, R. Bajada, T. Caruana, G. Nucera (Jorginho), E. Vella (J. Bondin), O. Bugeja, D. Pisani, R. Innocenti, F. D’Aniello(L. Del Guidice)

Valletta: P. Marino, J. Caruana, R. Fenech, I. Zammit (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Briffa, H. Barry (R. Antonelli), A. Nyang (E. Agius), D. Falzon, J. Vandelannoite, A. Nafti, L. Dimech

Referee: A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: L. Portelli, P. Apap

4th official:  P. Caruana

Scorer: A. Nafti 90

Yellow cards: F. D’Aniello, J. Vandelannoite, A. Effiong

Player of the match: O. Bugeja (Qormi)

TMI top three: 1. O. Bugeja  2. A. Nafti  3. R. Sammut

Attendance:1394

The omens look good for Valletta, winning and playing badly. Yesterday they were stretched to the limit by a plucky Qormi side, playing with pride and a sense of purpose. Qormi’s performance followed the one that saw them trounce Tarxien Rainbows before the international break and could have taken the points themselves were it not for two superb saves by Valletta keeper Pietro Marino in the final minutes.

In keeping with the pattern of the game, Qormi countered four minutes from the end, Jorghino’s cross from the left fell to the unmarked Effiong whose firm header demanded a smart save from the Valletta keeper, diving to his left to keep out the ball, with the help of the post. Hardly three minutes later, Effiong was again through, going past Dimech and Falzon from the right, but the onrushing Marino blocked his flick.

Then suddenly the goal acme on the other end.Nafti went past Bondin from the left and placed the ball at the far post, with Qormi keeper Farrugia hooked to his line to break Qormi’s hearts.

Valletta hardly deserved their win but football is all about taking chances. What you create means nothing if no goals are scored.

Qormi were missing the firepower of the injured Leighton Grech and Jorghino , against a Valletta defence strengthened by the return of Jonathan Caruana. Still Qormi did not show any inferiority complex and traded equal punches, fighting gamely for every ball.

Valletta also had Denni Dos Santos serving his second of a two-match ban, while Edmond Agius was named among the substitutes. They always looked likely to struggle against a well organised Qormi defence, with Owen Bugeja and Roderick Sammut did not allow the Valletta forwards any comfort on the ball. Roderick Bajada and Triston Caruana provided ample cover for the back four.

The match’s  first real chance fell to Valletta after ten minutes play. Nafti’s curling shot from inside the Qormi area on the left, was palmed out by the alert keeper Farrugia.

A bizarre back clearance by Effiong from half pitch was handled by the Qormi keeper. The referee awarded Valletta an indirect free kick, which Fenech played short to Zammit who shot against the Qormi wall.

Past the half hour, Roderick Bajada picked a cross from the right but was twice denied by blocks from Barry and Vandelannoite.

It was still goalless at halftime.

Qormi went into the second half in more lively fashion and put in Jorginho for Nucera.The Brazilian substitute  immediately made his presence felt, picking Effiong’s pass and thumping his long range shot against the innerside of the upright, the ball rebounding in play, with Marino beaten. The Valletta keeper atoned when stretching himself to save Innocenti’s headed effort on another Jorginho cross.

Valletta also threatened with a Nafti corner kick that clipped the upper side of the bar on 63 minutes, before effecting a double substitution, putting in Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Romulo Antonelli.

With Qormi somehow retreating in defence, Valletta probed for a winner. On 67 minutes Nyang’s cross from the right found Mifsud Triganza who shot feebly and keeper Farrugia could save.

Qormi still had the chance to secure the points in the late stages but Effiong was denied by Valletta’s keeper Marino on two occasions.

Those misses  proved costly for Qormi as Valletta struck the fatal blow on the stroke of time. Abdezkarim Nafti, who scored the winner, together with their goalkeeper, ended up Valletta’s heroes on the night. Their fans’ frustration suddenly turned into cheers and applauses as the players left the pitch at the end.