Qormi-Vittoriosa 1-2
Qormi: M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, R. Sammut, G. Bellucci, L. Grech (D. Pisani), R. Bajada (T. Caruana), J. Gabriel, E. Vella (G. Nucera), O. Bugeja, J. Bondin, A. Isakka
Vittoriosa: S. Cini, O. Sidibe, A. Spiteri, M. Pereira, C. Spiteri, J. F. Aguiar, G. Martin (M. Barabara), M. Buttigieg, O. Guerrero, S. Bamba (F. Mella), S. Arab (R. Mifsud)
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst.refs: R. Vella, T. Debono
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: R. Bajada 27 pen, G. Martin 52, M. Pereira 54
Yellow cards: A. Spiteri, O. Sidibe, L. Grech, G. Bellucci, F. Mella
Red card: J.P. Aguiar
Player of the match: O. Guerrero (Vittoriosa)
TMI top three: 1. G. Martin 2. O. Guerrero 3. L. Grech
Attendance: 421
Vittoriosa Stars put an end to their winless nine-match streak thanks to a spirited second half comeback that enabled them to obtain their first league win since October against Qormi.
The Stars had also beaten Qormi in the first round, but yesterday’s success looked beyond them by halftime as they were a man and a goal down before the half hour, after Felipe Aguiar was sent off when conceding a penalty.
Vittoriosa were a transformed side after the interval, with Gilbert Martin, Oscar Guerrero and Marcelo Pereira raising their game. Martin and Pereira scored twice soon after the start of the second period, and stunned Qormi were unable to recover.
Qormi were under the charge of assistant coach Josef Mansueto yesterday, following the departure of Tommaso Volpi during the week and they surrendered a one-goal lead against ten men in the second half. The general level of the team is a worry, especially after the dip in their overall performance after a satisfactory first 45 minutes.
Both sides recovered some players, back from suspension, for this match. Malcolm Buttigieg and Samir Arab were back for Vittoriosa, but they were bereft of the injured Clive Brincat and Michael Camilleri. Qormi had Roderick Bajada making his return after missing the previous match, as Trsiton Caruana was exiled to the bench.
Both teams relied on the mobility of their fast players – Gilbert Martin for Vittoriosa Stars and Leighton Grech for Qormi. The former missed the target on the loose ball off keeper Farrugia’s save on Aguiar’s shot. Grech’s testing cross from the right after 20 minutes, was headed over by Isakka.
The movement of Isakka, Grech and Effiong in the Qormi attack gave the Vittoriosa rearguard some anxious moments. Their centre backs Sidibe and Buttigieg at times were caught off the pace, like in the penalty incident after 27 minutes. Sidibe hesitated on a Qormi through ball to Isakka and, as the flag stayed down, allowed him to advance clear, only to be tackled by Aguiar and the keeper inside the area. The Qormi forward fell to win a penalty as Aguiar received marching orders. Roderick Bajada beat keeper Cini with his spot kick and Vittoriosa, a goal and a man down, were already facing an uphill struggle.
Qormi dominated possession for most of the remainder of ther half as Vittoriosa somehow remedied with the substitution of Bamba with Mella to partner Adam Spiteri in front of the defence. Before the break, the Vittoriosa keeper Cini had to rush off his line to foot out the ball before Effiong could reach for it.
But Qormi were stunned by their opponents’ comeback after the interval. Vittoriosa scored twice within as many minutes to turn the tables on them. On 52 minutes Gilbert Martin picked a defensive clearance on the edge of the Qormi area, steadied himself and hit hard. The Qoirmi keeper Farrugia only parried the ball but could not prevent it from crossing the line. Two minutes later, Mella whacked a free kick from the left. Marcelo Pereira’s shot hit the bar but he was quick to hit in the rebound from close range.
Qormi were rattled and lost all their composure. On the hour they were about to effect a substitution but as Nucera was ready to go in, Effiong refused to go out and coach Mansueto consented.
On 68 minutes Grech’s effort, after going past keeper Cini, was cleared off the line by Clive Spiteri.
As Qormi tried to move forward, Vittoriosa looked comfortable to play on the counter. On 74 minutes Guerrero was denied by a smart saved from keeper Farrugia. After some good work inside the Qormi area, Guerrero again had his effort footred out by the Qormi shot stopper.
Qormi went closest to slavahing at least a point in thge final minutes through their substitute Triston Caruana. His shot from the edge of the area, when served by Effiong, thumped against the top corner of the goal and then he had his free kick going narrowly wide.
In added time Guerrero almost inflicted furtgher punishment on Qormi’s unbalanved defence but his shot went tantalisingly over from a promising position.