Qormi-Rabat 3-1
Qormi: M. Farrugia, D. Pisani, G. Gianola, O. Bugeja, E. Vella (L. Cantoro), T. Caruana, J. Bondin, R. Bajada, L. Grech (M. Bance), A. Effiong (L. Gabrieli), J. Pereira da Silva.
Rabat: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, I. Carapic, Z. Tanti, SV Opraiescu, J. Bajada, W. Borg, M. Licari, C. Vella (P. Borg), D. Carrillo Pendas.
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst refs: C: Francalanza, D. Castillo
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann
Scorers: J: Pereira da Silva, T. Caruana, J. Bondin, D. Carrillo Pendas,
Player of the match: J. Pereira da Silva
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Pereira da Silva, L. Grech, P. Velimirovic
Henry Brincat
Qormi obtained three precious points in their quest to avoid the Drop as they brushed aside the Rabat Ajax challenge whom they defeated by three goals to one.
The Yellow Blacks made sure of their victory with three early strikes that put their minds at rest after only 17 minutes.
The three points have now lifted them to the 23-point. Rabat, already relegated, remain firmly anchored to the bottom, on just four points.
Qormi had to take the field without the suspended Gabriel da Silva and RS Quintieri, while on their part, Rabat had Joseph Caruana missing, also through suspension.
It was almost one-way traffic from the opening minute as Qormi showed no mercy going out on attack from the very first minute to make sure they leave the pitch with the three points.
They attacked incessantly and had scored three goals by the 17th minute
On their part, Rabat again disappointed their few followers. They simply had no answer to a superior outfit as Qormi proved to be yesterday.
In the second half, Qormi remained more or less in command, but Rabat showed some improvement and even managed to score a consolation goal.
For the Mapies, goalie Velimirovic distinguished himself with some excellent saves. And the posts (on five occasions) also helped to keep the score low.
Qormi showed their intentions quickly and in the first minute, it was Velimirovic who saved Rabat palming away a Pereira da Silva effort.
The Yellow Blacks opened the scoring on the fifth minute when off a Leighton Grech cross, Pereira’s good header hit the crossbar, but from the melee that ensued, it was the same Pereira who beat the Rabat goalie.
Qormi doubled their lead on the 14th minute when Triston Caruana found the net with a splendid rising shot from about 25 metres.
And three minutes later, it was 3-0 as Jonathan Bondin concluded an action initiated by Roderick Bajada with a shot that completely beat Velimirovic.
Rabat’s only effort arrived on the 35th minute with a Chris Vella shot going well wide of the target.
At the other end, it was Alfred Effiong who had a low shot going just wide.
Effiong could have added a fourth two minutes from the interval, when he was set in the area by Gianolo, but his effort was turned to corner by Velimirovic.
At the start of the second half, Carrillo Pendas had a weak freekick saved by Farrugia.
At the other end, in the 51st minute, Effiong had a fine effort hitting the upright.
But it was Rabat who managed to reduce the gap in the 53rd minute through Carrillo Pendas who went past two Qormi defenders before firing into the net.
In the 57th minute, Pisani, Cantoro and Effiong exchanged the ball but the latter’s shot went just wide.
In the 65th minute, Effiong set Grech, but Velimirovic came to Rabat’s rescue with a good save. And the goalie was again a protagonist two minutes later, turning to corner a Pereira da Silva shot from outside the area.
The in-form Pereira da Silva went agonisingly close to a fourth goal in the 75th minute as did Cantoro who hit the upright in the 80th minute.
In the 82nd minute, it was Grech who hit a fourth upright for Qormi after he had rounded Borg and goalie Velimirovic. As if that was not enough, Cantoro again had a shot turned onto the post by Velimirovic two minutes from the end.