Qormi stunned

Bottom club San Gwann yesterday beat leaders Qormi 2-1 in an eventful match that saw five players sent off. Luck was not on Qormi's side but all credit to the Saints who, marshalled by the ever-green Sandro Zammit Fava, defended grimly and held on for their first win of the season.

Qormi had Emanuel Fabri on the bench yesterday as coach Martin Gregory was unavailable. The Saints saw more of the ball in the opening half as Qormi sat back and soaked up the pressure.

In one of their attacks early in the match, Chris Cuschieri dribbled his way through before releasing Roberto Brincat who blasted the ball home.

San Gwann could have made it 2-0 soon after but Karl Sciberras prolonged his action and ran too wide. His cross was eventually cleared by the Qormi defenders.

Danilo Doncic's team maintained the upperhand and came close again on 21 minutes when from a corner Antonio Saliba saw his effort cleared off the line. Sciberras's drive from six metres out was blocked and then Cuschieri forced a good save from Matthew Farrugia.

Qormi had their chances late in the first half. Kurt Zammit had a grounder saved by Justin Spiteri and a Michael Borg Olivier cross found no takers inside the Saints' box.

The game became nervous on resumption. San Gwann defender Saliba and Borg Olivier were sent off in the 49th minute and six minutes later it was Jan Talcevski, of Qormi, who was red-carded for a late tackle on Cuschieri.

Qormi had a Joseph Farrugia free-kick in the 56th minute saved by the San Gwann custodian. Then, the Saints' chances took a nosedive when Alan Borg and Brincat were red-carded for dissent.

Things became difficult for the Saints now but, surprisingly, it was Qormi who conceded a goal eight minutes from time. From a swift counter-attack Sciberras's cross found the unmarked Clint Gatt on the right spot to tap home and make it 2-0.

Qormi reacted immediately and pulled one back five minutes from time following a Formosa goal.

Qormi laid siege on the San Gwann goal in the dying minutes. A Johann Zammit first-timer from close range hit the bar. With three minutes to go, Zammit was again denied by the woodwork following an Azzopardi cross.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, L. Vella Critien, A. Saliba, M. Buttigieg, M. Francica (D. Cuschieri), S. Zammit Fava, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri (C. Gatt), R. Brincat, K. Micallef (A. Gatt), K. Sciberras.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, N. Zarb Cousin (C. Formosa), J. Scicluna, A. Formosa, E. Azzopardi, K. Zammit, J. Farrugia, J. Talcevski, M. Borg Olivier, J. Chetcuti (J. Zammit), G. Buhagiar (M. Tabone).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Man of the Match: Sandro Zammit Fava (San Gwann).