Qormi-Birkirkara 1-3
Qormi: M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, R. Sammut, R.Bajada, J. Gabriel, T. Caruana, C. Terribile, L. Grech, E. Vella, O. Bugeja, J. Bondin,
Birkirkara: J. Haber, A. Mendoza, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras, F. Temile (R. Scicluna), R. Muscat, S. Shodiya (T. Vella), Jhonnattan (R. Camenzuli), P. Fenech, E. Herrera
Referee: A. Arciola
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, A. Borg Cardona
Additional assistant refs: A. M. Sant, P. Caruana
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: E. Herrera 15, A. Mendoza 65, A. Effiong 77, R. Scicluna 87
Player of the match: Jhonnattan (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. Jhonnattan 2. M. Farrugia 3. R. Muscat
Attendance: 1,617
Birkirkara are enjoying the view from the top of the BoV Premier League, particularly the sight of Valletta and Hibernians disappearing in their wing mirrors after widening the gap to six points with this 11th league win on the trot.
Birkirkara put struggling Qormi to the sword with the same efficiency that they had beaten Floriana the previous week. They were far too strong for opponents who will be grateful to their goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia that this game did not result in an even more agonising defeat. The league leaders accumulated enough chances to have won by a bigger margin as Jhonnattan, returning from suspension, demonstrated his enduring brilliance and had a hand in all his side’s goals yesterdasy.
This was Qormi’s second outing under new coach Karel Zeman, but after the goalless draw against Rabat Ajax, Qormi could not avoid defeat yesterday, that leaves them with lingering relagation fears. They made three changes as Petrassi was dropped and both Duncan Pisani and Abudulai Isakka were relegated to the bench. The three were replaced by Leighton Grech, Owen Bugeja and Emerson Vella.
Joseph Zerafa was given the nod ahead of Zach Muscat. Ryan Camenzuli was included as a late substitute.
The Stripes’ usual 4-3-1-2 formation had midfielders Paul Fenech and Gareth Sciberras covering the width of the pitch on both flanks to support the two forwards Frank Temile and Jhonnattan, with Shola Shodiya right behind them.
Glimpses of Birkirkara’s attacking intentions came from Sciberras’ insidious lob from the right which did not surprise keeper Matthew Farrugia. Fenech’s shot from a distance went narrowly wide before Birkirkara made the breakthrough as early as the first quarter hour. Jhonnattan’s free kick from outside the area on the left rebounded off the underside of the bar and, with a static Qormi defence, Edward Herrera coolly headed in the loose ball.
The goal put the leaders in the driving seat. On 21 minutes, Jhonnattan turned away from Sammut, advanced through the middle but shot wide. On the half hour, Shodiya advanced on the right, the flag stayed down but he shot over.
With halftime looming, Jhonnattan missed the target on three occasions. Firts on Shodiya’s cross from the byeline, the second on Temile’s free kick and then he headed Temile’s cross over the bar.
Qormi, who rarely ventured into enemy territory in the first half, created a half chance on 27 minutes, Caruana sending a high ball inside the Birkirkara area but Effiong failed to put his head to it.
The pattern of the game did not change much in the second half. Birkirkara pressed hard for a second reassuring goal. Qormi, still cautious at the back, probed for an equaliser.
Rowen Muscat miskicked Shodiya’s cross inside the Qormi area and Sammut’s glancing header deflected Temile’s free kick but keeper Farrugia held out with a good reflex save.
Qormi’s best chance to level matters came on 63 minutes. Effiong robbed Zerafa of the ball and ran inside the Birkirkara area but was thwarted by keeper Haber.
On the other end, Jhonnattan continued to sparkle. He ran down the left on a Muscat through ball. His shot was repelled by keeper Farrugia.
Qormi buckled for the second time under Birkirkara’s pressure on 65 minutes. On a Jhonnattan corner from the right, defender Alejandro Mendoza turned striker to head firmly low past the Qormi keeper.
When Birkirkara looked comfortable with their advantage, Qormi reduced the deficit on 77 minutes. Thei best outfield player Triston Caruana, played a through ball to Alfred Effijong inside the area. This time the Qormji forward went round the grounded Haber to score from a tight angle.
That did not demorilise the more experienced Birkirkara though.
Qormi looked inevitably tired, not only in defence but attack. Without summoning much urgency the Stripes were the only side threatening in the final quarter. It was only thanks to keeper Farrugia that Birkirkara did not score more goals as he stopped Vukanac’s free kick and denied Jhonnattan as he headed substitute Scicluna’s cross towards the top corner.
After Caruana hit powerfully Effiong’s cross first time narrowly wide from outside the area, Jhonnattan combined effectively with Ryan Scicluna to bring a third goal with three minutes of normal time remaining.
The Brazilian delivered another short cross from the byeline on the left for the substitute to drive home.
In all fairness, this was mere decoration. Qormi never looked like being allowed back into the contest once they had gone behind.