Qormi-Vittoriosa 5-1

Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat, O. Sidibe, L. Torri (Siraj Arab), M. Buttigieg, L. Vella Critien, F. Aguiar, G. Martin, F. Santaguida (F. Arriagada), M. Pereira, M. Buttigieg, M. Camilleri (C. Spiteri)

Qormi: M. Farrugia, J. Bondin, E. Vella, G. Gianola, D. Pisani (L. Gabrieli), T. Caruana, S. Quinteri (R. Bajada), J. Gabriel, L. Grech, A. Effiong (D. Pirotta), J. Da Silva

Referee:  A. Arciola

Asst.refs:  R. Vella, D. Sultana

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers:  A. Effiong 8, J. Da Silva 49, 61, L. Grech 72,74, M. Pereira 77

Yellow cards: F. Aguiar, M. Buttigieg, F. Santaguida, J. Bondin

Red card: O. Sidibe

Player of the match: L. Grech (Rabat A)

TMI top 3: 1. L. Grech  2. J. Da Silva  3. M. Muscat

This third consecutive win lifts Qormi to second spot in the Relegation Pool, on equal points with Floriana, who play today, and leave Vittoriosa Stars in the penultimate spot, two points adrift of Naxxar Lions above them.

Yesterday, Qormi again thrashed a poor Vittoriosa side, reduced to ten men for the last half hour, as they have now scored 13 goals in their last three matches as they continue to crawl towards safety.

Vittoriosa were hampered by the absence of the suspended Oscar Guerrero, his side’s protagonist in the win against Rabat Ajax in the last outing. Coach Spiteri also dropped Samir Arab and Ryan Mifsud, giving starts to Clive Brincat, Luke Vella Critien and Federico Santaguida. But that is no excuse for a lethargic performance that leaves them deeply embroiled in the relagation struggle.

Ominously for their opponents, Qormi, buoyed by their convincing win over Naxxar Lions the previous week, were again at full strength.

They fashioned most of their attacks down the right flank, with Leighton Grech’s forages causing  embarassment to the Vittoriosa defence. After five minutes, Jorge Da Silva failed to connect on a Grech cross and three minutes later, Vittoriosa defender  Vella Critien’s defective control inside the area, on yet another Grech cross, allowed Alfred Effiong to take possession and beat keeper Muscat with a low drive.

Qormi dominated possession , won several corners but none proved productive. On 23 minutes Effiong, in a dubious offside position, headed Grech’s cross from close range but keeper Muscat saved into a corner.

Vittoriosa took some time to settle and showed up only in flashes. After their early half chance through Pereira’s shot which was booted out by Bondin, they crafted another opportunity midway through the half but Martin skied Aguiar’s testing cross from the right.

Qormi’s superiority almost brought them more goals before halftime were it not for some superlative goalkeeping from Muscat. He denied Vittoriosa with a smart save into a corner on 35 minutes when Effiong again reached before Vella Critien on Grech’s cross with a close range effort.

Five minutes later, Muscat turned Jorge Da Silva’s long range free kick into another corner.

But Qormi took only four minutes into an eventful second half to double their lead. On Vella’s cross from the left, Jorge Da Silva headed past keeper Muscat as Vittoriosa’s defence was caught napping.

Vittoriosa, who effected a double substitution at halftime, putting in Siraj Arab and Clive Spiteri, tried to react  but their response was flacid as Arab’s central shot was easily blocked by keeper Farrugia and Pereira’s shot went narrowly wide.

The match was as good as over by the hour. Qormi won a penalty when Sidabe felled Jorge Da Silva inside the area and the Vittoriosa defender was  sent off. Muscat managed to hold out Jorge Da Silva’s penalty kick but was beaten by the same player on the loose ball.

The match produced three more goals in the space of five minutes. Leighton Grech crowned a good performance with his brace. On 72 minutes he beat the Vittoriosa offside trap on Quinteri’s long ball to shoot past Muscat. Two minutes later he was again put clear, deceived the onrushing keeper Muscat, who thought he would lob the ball, but Grech scored with a low strike.

Vittoriosa hit a consolation goal on 77 minutes when Marcelo Pereira controlled Martin’s cross and beat the otherwise inoperative keeper Farrugia from close range.

That failed however to lift the gloom of a disappointing display by the Stars.