Brave Qormi keep champs at bay

Valletta 0
Qormi 0

Qormi caused a mini-upset yesterday after holding champions Valletta to a goalless draw.

The second round meeting between the perennial heavyweights and the Premier League newcomers had been viewed as a glorious opportunity for Valletta to reclaim top spot from Hibs but such expectations failed to materialise. Instead it was Qormi who embellished their reputation with a gallant and lively performance which contrasted sharply with their opponents' wretched display.

Indeed, Qormi not only squeezed the life out of Valletta, they also fashioned the better chances, especially in the second half, but they were denied what would have been a historic win by City goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and the woodwork.

Paulo Massaro's exquisite double in the FA Trophy victory over Floriana earned him a starting role yesterday. Paul Zammit, the City coach, opted for an all-South American forward line as Massaro, from Brazil, was partnered by Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo.

Zammit also felt that the time was ripe to give captain Gilbert Agius and Luke Dimech a breather as the two veterans were named among the substitutes. With Stefan Giglio sidelined with a one-match suspension, the captain's armband was handed to Steve Bezzina.

Qormi were without Nigerian Alfred Effiong, still recovering from a foot injury, and midfielder Keith Fenech who is on honeymoon.

The Citizens enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the early stages but Qormi, who started with Brazilian forward Josivan Da Silva as a lone striker, easily coped with their opponents' pressure.

On one occasion, Monesterolo managed to create space for a shot on the right but his mishit attempt was off target.

Qormi produced their first menacing attack on 28 minutes when Joseph Farrugia opened up Valletta's defence with a delicate flick to control Paul Camilleri's lofted pass. The Qormi captain surged into the area but his effort was blocked.

At the other end, goalkeeper Reuben Gauci denied Valletta an opener with a point-blank save from Massaro after the latter had received a precise pass from Doding Priso.

Valletta's Cameroonian forward then powered his way into the box and aimed for goal but his effort was too central to unsettle Gauci.

Amid Valletta's troubles to rediscover the fluid passing and movement that marked their vibrant display against Floriana, the organised Qormi grew in confidence.

Massaro might have put Valletta ahead in the initial minutes of the second half but he skewed his shot high and wide.

A quick, incisive City move threatened to unlock Qormi's defence as Cleaven Frendo advanced on the right before delivering a low pass that seemed destined to reach Priso but Sammut slid in to push the ball away from the Valletta striker.

In no time, Priso was guilty of a glaring miss, driving the ball wide after being set up by Massaro.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, Adrian Ciantar swerved the ball towards the far post from a free-kick but Anatole Debono, a first-half replacement for Camilleri, headed against the side-netting.

Lack of creativity was clearly hampering Valletta's efforts to break down Qormi for whom defender Ramon Dos Santos excelled at the back. Two minutes past the hour, Zammit tried to rectify this deficiency by introducing Gilbert Agius for Frendo and changing his team's gameplan for 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.

Yet, it was Qormi who almost forced a breakthrough but Farrugia piledriver from outside the area sailed high.

Tame defending by Valletta presented Qormi with an opening as Debono seized possession inside the box and mustered a cross-shot that sailed across the face of goal.

The champions would have fallen behind were it not for the woodwork as Massimo Grima's thunderbolt from long range cannoned off the crossbar.

With eight minutes left, Dyson Falzon, who had just replaced the ineffective Monesterolo, was just wide with a free-kick.

Two minutes from time, Valletta's evening took a turn for the worse when Priso, having been cautioned for simulation only a few minutes earlier, was deemed to have dived following a tackle by Ramon Dos Santos.

From the press area, the first impression was that Dos Santos's leg had made contact with Priso but referee Kevin Azzopardi saw otherwise and dismissed the Valletta striker.

With Valletta all at sea, Qormi might have pulled off a famous win but Chetcuti was twice denied by Andrew Hogg.

Valletta
A. Hogg-6.5, R. Briffa-6, S. Bezzina-6.5, J. Mifsud-5.5 ('72 J. Pace), J. Grioli-6.5, K. Scicluna-7, C. Frendo-5 ('62 G. Agius-4), P. Massaro-5, E. Agius-6, S. Monesterolo-4 ('80 D. Falzon), D. Priso.

Qormi
R. Gauci-6.5, R. Sammut-6.5, R. Dos Santos-7, S. Wellman-6, C. Ciantar-6.5 ('84 M. Borg), P. Camilleri-5 ('38 A. Debono-6.5), J. Farrugia-7, M. Grima-6.5, A. Ciantar-6.5, J. Chetcuti-7, J. Da Silva-6.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Briffa; Priso.

Red card: Priso (V) 88.

BOV player of the match: Ramon Dos Santos (Qormi).