Vittoriosa-Qormi 2-0
Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat, Samir Arab (M. Buttigieg), L. Torri (F. Arriagada), C. Sammut (Siraj Arab), O. Sidibe, F. Aguiar, M. Perreira, O. Guerrero, C. Brincat, L. Vella Critien, C. Spiteri
Qormi: M. Farrugia, J. Bondin, A. Effiong, D. Pisani, E. Vella (C. Terribile), L. Grech (L. Cantoro), R. Sammut, T. Caruana, O. Bugeja, S. Quinteri , J. Da Silva
Referee: V.Spasjonnikovs (Latvia)
Asst.refs: J.Morozons, V.Karitko
4th official: M. Borg
Scorers: M. Perreira 87, O. Guerrero 90+
Yellow cards: S. Quinteri, L. Torri
Player of the match: O. Guerrero
TMI top 3: 1. O. Guerrero 2. T. Caruana 3. O. Sidibe
Vittoriosa Stars can glimpse salvation.Thanks to a late burst that saw them score twice to beat Qormi, compounded by Naxxar’s defeat yesterday, survival is tantalisingly close, so near they can almost touch it, but they are not quite there yet.
This was a triumph of team work, garnished by two late goals that keep the Stars well in contention for securing their Premier League status for at least another season. Vittoriosa now move one point above Naxxar Lions, prior to the direct clash on the decisive final day, needing to avoid defeat.
Despite defeat, Qormi are also safe, two points above Vittoriosa and three above Naxxar Lions, with one game remaining.
In a game where chances were rarities, but misses aplenty, it rarely threatened to be crucial.
Vittoriosa were buoyed by the return from suspension of Felipe Aguiar and Leonardo Torri although Gilbert Martin was missing through injury.
Qormi were bereft of their injured defender Giorgio Gianola and dropped Joao Gabriel to the bench. Jorge Silva was their most advanced player in attack, with both Alfred Effiong and Leighton Grech operating from wide positions.
After 13 minutes Effiong made progress inside the Vittoriosa half, going past three opponents, laid the ball to Jorge Silva, who lofted over the bar.
Oscar Guerrero was the chief tormentor for the Qormi defence with his forages and delivery of crosses from the right flank. Past the quarter hour Samir Arab spurned the first chance when he failed to put a foot to the ball, as it fell between him and keeper Farrugia on the Brazilian’s cross.
Past the half hour, on yet another Guerrero cross from the right, Perreira had the better of Pisani, chested the ball but shot horrendously over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.
Shortly before the break, Aguiar played one-two with Torri but his effort again missed the target.
Qormi returned after the break with greater intent and a touch of invention. Caruana headed Quinteri’s free kick from the left just wide and on 51 minutes Jorge Silva put Grech clear down the right to advance but put his diagonal low strike off target.
But Vittoriosa went closest of opening the scoring past the hour when Guerrero thumped his direct free kick from outside the area against the Qormi bar.
With Lucas Cantoro going in as substitute for Qormi and later Francisco Arriagada replacing Torri for Vittoriosa, the match looked heading towards a goalless draw until three minutes from the end.
Qormi were stunned by Vittoriosa’s late burst, following an Arriagada routine corner which caused a goalmouth scramble as the Qormi keeper failed to hold and his defence failed to clear for Marcelo Perreira to finally stab the ball into the Qormi goal.
And deep into added time, Oscar Guerrero outpaced Bondin to shoot low past the helpless keeper Farrugia to move his side closer to salvation.