Mosta 3        

Qormi 1

Mosta: Y. Cini, K. Frendo (Z. Brincat 79 min), T. Farrugia, E. Vella, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (N. Frendo 86 min), D. Fenech (D. Xuereb 70 min), K. Magro, J. Rodrigues Ekani, C. Hengbart, D. Njongo Priso, P. Dos Santos Calcado.

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, O. Sidibe, D. Vukovic, M. Barbara (S. Zammit 68 min), Y. Yankam, A. Abela, Q. Bregman, M. Camilleri (A. Cassar 89 min), D. Medic (C. Farrugia 84 min), L. Chiedozie, N. Ojuola.

Scorers: D. Medic 6 min, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 56 min, P. Dos Santos Calcado 58 min, D. Njongo Priso 81 min.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant

Ass.referees: Roberto Vella, Paul Apap

4th official: Thomas Debono

Additional Ass.: Mario Apap, Sandro Spiteri

Yellow cards: L. Chiedozie, M. Camilleri

 

■ Chris Cassar

 

Three second half goals enabled Mosta to keep their Premier league status at the expense of a gallant Qormi side.

Mosta thus managed to reach their goal at the end of a dismal and disappointing season.

Qormi’s spirited was not enough yesterday as Brian Spiteri’s side found the going hard after the break, especially after suffering two quick goals in the space of twpo minutes.

Qormi surely the underdogs at the start of the match, started like a house on fire, with Yankam and Michael Camilleri dominating in midfield.

It was no surprise that they took the lead on six minutes when Lawrence Chiedozie did all the running on the left flank beating Ekani in style and passing low towards Darko medic who drilled the ball home.

Mosta tried an immediate reaction with Mifsud Triganza hitting wide when well placed. But it was an isolated strike from the Mosta striker who rarely found space as Mosta struggled, even though they piled an impressive series of corner kicks.

Qormi’s Sidibe was again outstanding in defence and blokced everyhting that came his way, with Dejan Vukovic playing a blinderon the right flank.

On 18 minutes Chiedozie went close with an angled shot and on 32 minutes a Michael Camilleri deflected freekick almost found the way to the back of the net.

In the dying stages of the first half both sides could have scored. On 42 minutes Mosta’s best player Calcado almost scored with his lob cleared off the goal line by Abela.

Sixty seconds later on the other end Chiedozie sent Noah Ojuola through with the Qormi top scorer only hitting the side netting after rounding off the opposing goalkeeper.

No changes were mad by both coaches in the second half, as Mosta were more determined.

Photos Domenic Aquilina

Qormi lost hold of the midfield sector as they went on the defensive, with Calcado hitting slightly over the bar after 48 minutes.

Qormi were now in difficulty and as the Mosta coach was about to make a double substitution, his side obtained the equaliser.

On 56 minutes Calcado served David Fenech who sent Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza through and the veteran striker deceived Azzopardi from an angle.

Qormi were dejected and two minutes later they suffered a second blow as Calcado caught the Qormi defence napping to beat Azzopardi with a precise grounder.

This was a complete turn around with Mosta now in the driving seat and with Qormi unable to recover.

Qormi looked a demoralised lot after this double blow and Mosta controlled the match with relative ease, going close a third goal on a couple of occassions.

With nine minutes to go Mosta put their minds at rest from another season among the elite when Njongo Priso beat Azzopardi from close range.

Qormi made a last ditch effort in the remaining minutes forcing Mosta on the defensive, but it was too late know.

Michael Camilleri missed a sitter after a quickly taken freekick with Cini saving Camilleri’s feeble effort, and in the dying minutes Ojuola’s effort went slightly over the bar for Qormi’s last chance to crawl back in the game.