Qormi, Mosta win to keep promotion race wide open

Qormi 4
Dingli Swallows 2

Qormi joined Mosta at the top of Division One on 37 points and kept their promotion bid firmly on track with a 4-2 victory over Dingli Swallows.

As Qormi and Mosta completed their commitments yesterday, they must wait for the result of next weekend's match between title contenders Tarxien Rainbows and St Patrick to learn their fate.

If Tarxien beat St Patrick, they will secure top-flight football next season and leave Mosta and Qormi facing a decider for the other promotion slot.

A defeat for Tarxien would signify promotion for Mosta and Qormi, who currently enjoy a one-point lead at the top. A draw for the Rainbows would see three teams finish level on 37 points, in which case Qormi will go up as the latter have the best record in head-to-head-clashes while Tarxien and Mosta would contest the other promotion berth in a decider.

In yesterday's match, Qormi were by far the better side and perhaps deserved to win by a bigger margin.

After seven minutes, Qormi's Joe Chetcuti picked up an injury and was unable to continue. His replacement, Michael Borg Olivier, scored with virtually his first touch of the ball after eight minutes. Borg Olivier beat Dingli goalkeeper Reuben Grech from close range after a pass by Lee Grima.

Clyde Camoin hit Qormi's second on 13 minutes with a diagonal shot.

The Swallows' response arrived eight minutes from half-time, Chris Ciappara's shot just missing the target.

Dingli did manage to pull a goal back on 53 minutes with Ciappara firing past Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia off a cross from the left.

But, barely a minute later, Qormi restored their two-goal cushion with a long-range effort by Joseph Farrugia.

Qormi sealed the issue six minutes from time with a goal by substitute Jonathan Francica.

On 89 minutes, Dingli narrowed the deficit with a cute lob by Ciappara.

Qormi
M. Farrugia, P. Camilleri, C. Camoin, K. Zammit, J. Saliba (J. Francica), M. Borg, A. Debono (D. Zuccaro), L. Grima, J. Chetcuti (M. Borg Olivier), J. Farrugia, C. Formosa.

Dingli
R. Grech, E. Casha, B. Genovese, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, M. Galea (M. Pace), K. Formosa, C. Tabone (E. Farrugia), J. Sapiano, B. Galea, U. Anywanna (C. Muscat).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Joseph Farrugia (Qormi).

Mosta 3
Mellieħa 0

In yesterday's opening match, promotion hopefuls Mosta leap-frogged erstwhile leaders Tarxien with a 3-0 win over Mellieħa who have been relegated to Division Two after only one season in the second tier of Maltese football.

Massimo Grima and Ryan Deguara were instrumental in Mosta's victory yesterday while Ndayi Kalenga was, as usual, very active in attack. Mellieħa had their bright moments but were still miles away from Mosta who are involved in a three-way fight for promotion with Qormi and Tarxien.

Kalenga put Mosta ahead in the 10th minute with a low shot.

Mellieħa could have equalised after 17 minutes but Robert Muscat was unlucky when his header, from a Marvin Abela cross, hit the crossbar.

Mosta were quick to break on the counter and Deguara passed to Kalenga but the latter's drive was pushed away for a corner by Simon Gauci. From the resulting corner, taken by Carlos Camenzuli, Massimo Grima headed onto a post.

A minute before the break, Mosta made it 2-0 when Camenzuli finished off a good run by Deguara.

On the hour, Mosta tripled their lead. A shot by Grima came off Camenzuli but the ball fell to Kalenga who slotted home from close range.

With Mellieħa out for the count, Mosta remained in command. One minute into stoppage time, a fine shot by Grima was turned away for a corner by Mellieħa goalie James Abela, who had come on for Gauci.

Mosta
J. Debono, A. Borg (N. Gatt), S. Borg (C. Sant), M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli, R. Deguara, P. Vassallo, D. Theuma, E. Vella (C. Sant), N. Kalenga, M. Grima.

Mellieħa
S. Gauci (J. Abela), F. Vella, M. Abela (O. Calleja), W. Borg, K. Gauci, R. Muscat (I. Tarek), R. Vella, H. Vella, R. Vella, S.C. Brasilino, M. Camilleri.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Man of the match: Ryan Deguara (Mosta).