Birkirkara-Qormi 1-1

Birkirkara: J. Haber, R. Camenzuli (E. Herrera), A. Mendoza, Jhonnattan, P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras (D. Toure), R. Muscat, S. Shodiya, F. Temile, Z. Muscat

Qormi: M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, G. Bellucci, L. Grech, R. Bajada, J. Pereira, O. Bugeja, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, R. Innocenti, L. Gabrieli (G. Nocera)

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs:. D. Sultana, S. Attard

Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, S. Spiteri

4th official: C. Francalanza

Scorers: S. Shodiya 61, R. Innocenti 68

Yellow cards: R. Camenzuli, P. Fenech, G. Sciberras, A. Mendoza, J. Pereira (D. Pirotta), M. Farrugia, G. Bellucci, Z. Muscat, Jhonnattan

Player of the match: P. Fenech (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada  2. R. Innocenti  3. P. Fenech

Attendance: 769

Champions Birkirara had to settle for a draw against Qormi, opponents from lower rungs in the standings, dropping two more points that now keep them eight adrift of runaway leaders Hibernians.

Although Birkirkara were in charge from the outset and enjoyed the vast majority of possession they never made their dominance count in the face of an organised Qormi defence and created very few opportunities. That ultimately cost them.

Coach Zammit cannot ignore the fact that his team is failing to impress despite his myriad of talent in the squad. Birkirkara at times look disjointed, showing huge gaps in midfield, too distant from the attacking trio of Shodiya, Jhonnattan and Temile, who also often fall short in the final third.

With Alfred Effiong, Roderick Bajada and Leighton Grech back in the side and starting the game, Qormi were a different proposition. They gave a debut to another Italian , Leonardo Gabrieli, who provided the assist to Qormi’s equaliser. Roderick Sammut again did not feature in Qormi’s squad though.

Qormi gave an early indication that they were up for a contest, with full-blooded but fair sliding tackles from Bellucci, Bugeja and Bondin in the opening exchanges.

Bajada, Innocenti and Pereira were also highly involved in midfield where they won several balls to stifle their opponents’ build-ups.

Effiong was also looking lively, using his pace to find gaps and sending a snap-shot wide from 20 yards.

The more Birkirkara tried to show urgency, the more they looked erratic in their delivery. For all their huffing and puffing they produced almost nothing worthy to trouble the Qormi defence and keeper Matthew Farrugia remained mostly inoperative in the Qormi goal durimng the first half.

When Temile rose to connect to Shodiya’s cross from the left with halftime looming, he put his header over.

The half’s best chance fell to Qormi midway through the half. Grech played a long diagonal pass to Effiong, wide on the left. The Nigerian forward advanced inside the Birkirkara area but his goalbound effort was ably saved by keeper Haber into a corner.

Edward Herrera replaced Camenzuli at halftime  and on the hour they even replaced their captain Sciberras with Demba Toure as they looked visibly frustrated. The second substitution ahd some effect as Birkirkara finally broke the deadlock. Jhonnattann set Temile going on the right. He won a tussle with Bellucci and cut the ball back for Shola Shodiya to beat keeper Farrugia with a well placed strike. Qormi protested for an alleged Temile foul on Bellucci but the referee was unmoved.

Birkirkara’s lead lasted only seven minutes. Gabrieli delivered a testing cross from the left, exploiting the gap behind Herrera, keeper Haber could only push the ball out as far as Ricardo Innocenti to shoot in from inside the area.

Birkirkara demanded an outstanding reflex save from keeper Farrugia on 72 minutes as Toure’ headed the ball in the path of Jhonnattan whose close range shot was blocked by the Qormi shot stopper.

After that, the champions did not threaten muchs further, with Qormi also creating some half chances but Effiong and Grech failed to exploit openings in the Birkirkara rearguard.

The closing minutes had a scrappy quality, with Birkirkara seemingly the nervier of the two sides, but although they ended on the front foot they would have been fortunate winners.

In the final anlaysis, a draw was the right result.