Mosta-Qormi 1-2

Mosta: O. Borg, K. Farrugia (I. Grech), T. Farrugia, M. Brincat, A. Cini, L. Duriska (G. Piccione), N. Consentini, M. Micallef, C. Fernandes, R. Faria, B. Kaljevic (J. Brincat)

Qormi: M. Farrugia, R. Sammut, G. Bellucci, O. Bugeja, J. Bondin, T. Caruana, R. Bajada, C. Terribile (D. Pisani), A. Effiong, L. Grech  (F. Santagudia), R. Innocenti

Referee: G. Tonna

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: A. Effiong 19, O. Bugeja 76 og, R,Bajada 80 pen

Yellow cards: T. Caruana, R. Bajada, R. Innocenti, O. Borg, M. Micallef, J. Brincat

Player of the match: A. Effiong (Qorni)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada  2. T. Farrugia  3. T. Caruana

Qormi’s second win of a hitherto sorry season is one for Tomaso Volpi’s side to savour although it is unlikely to feature high in anybody’s memory .

It was yet another scrappy league game, lacking excitement and scoring opportunities in equal measure and shrouded in some refereeing controversial decisions, that went Qormi’s way courtesy of a Roderick Bajada penalty ten minutes from time.

Mosta, who have generally been playing pretty well at the start of this campaign, are having a few too many nightmarish moments lately.

This defeat, their third on the trot, was mainly due to their too much lack of conviction in the first half and although they improved slightly after the interval, their temporary equaliser came in a fortuitous manner, only through an own goal by Qormi’s central defender Owen Bugeja.

They might feel hard done by the way they lost the match though – a penalty ten minutes from time, when twice before, Mosta had their own claims for a penalty blatantly turned down by the referee.

Mosta now drop one place to sixth in the standings.

Both teams wanted to make up for embarassing defeats in the previous matches. Mosta were beaten by Floriana while Qormi lost against Balzan.

Qormi dropped three players, Gianluca Nucera, Duncan Pisani and Leonardo Gabrieli, to be replaced by Roderick Sammut, Triston Caruana and newcomer Christian Terribile. Mosta, as usual fielded five foreigners, with their sixth, Gian Marco Piccione going in for Duriska before the end of the first half.

Qormi showed more will and energy to win the game against lethargic opponents and although they failed to produce high standards, Qormi were good value

On 16 minutes, Terribile;s shot on Grech’s pass was saved into a corner by keeper Borg.

Three minutes later Mosta's resistance was broken in a predictable manner. Innocenti won possession wide on the left in midfield, played the ball forward top Alfred Effiong who advanced, cut through the middle and beat goalkeeper Borg.

As for Mosta’s attacks, there were rumours they might mount one but it was difficult to see how they could. The paradox of Doncic’s team is that they play with a sense of adventure bordering on the reckless but at a pace close to leisurely. Qormi suppressed them with ease to go one up at halftime.

Luckily, things slightly improved after the break, although not the quality of football, and Qormi went close to doubling their lead within ten minutes of the restart. Defender Bugeja raced upfield to meet Effiong’s square pass. His goalbound effort was palmed out by keeper Borg with a single-handed save into a corner.

Mosta, who had been already lamenting about some refereeing decisions in the first half, were incensed on 65 minutes when Fernandes fell, after coming into contact with Innocenti inside the Qormi area, but their claims for a penalty were turned down.

They were unlucky when ‘Ricardinho’ Faria’s shot thumped against the bar on 69 minutes. His effort deserved a better fate. Kane Farrugia also tried his luck with a long range effort which keeper Farrugia saved well.

That heralded Mosta’s best patch of the match, levelling  matters on 76 minutes. Micallef precipitated the equaliser as his cross from the byeline on the left was deflected by Owen Bugeja into his own net as he tried to clear.

But their relief was short lived. Qormi threatened again with an Effiong close range header, held out with some difficulty by Borg. The Mosta keeper then felled Qormi’s substitute Santaguida inside the are to concede a penalty, which Roderick Bajada tucked away to retain the lead for Qormi.

Mosta’s late efforts, as they probed for an equaliser, proved futile. Qormi keeper Farrugia denied substitute James Brincat with his tempestous sortie and in added time, Fernandes’ effort, following a scramble inside the Qormi area, was cleared off the line by Bondin.