Dronca on mark to thwart Qormi

Sliema Wanderers 1
Qormi 1

Relegation strugglers Qormi and Sliema Wanderers had to settle for a point each after their second round match ended 1-1.

It was a fair outcome to a largely drab match which saw the Wanderers play for practically the whole game with ten men after goalkeeper Henry Bonello was red-carded after only three minutes.

Qormi looked to be heading for a precious victory when Joseph Chetcuti put them ahead 12 minutes from time but Sliema refused to throw in the towel. Their persistence was rewarded when Lucian Dronca scored the equaliser from the penalty spot.

Jesmond Zerafa, the Qormi coach, had to make do without five key players as Massimo Grima and Anatole Debono were ruled out by suspension while Alfred Effiong, Adrian Ciantar and Josivan Da Silva were recovering from injury.

With striker Ivan Woods laid low by an ankle injury, Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi handed a start to Matthew Bartolo but the latter's participation was brief.

The Wanderers had a disastrous start as after three minutes, they found themselves down to 10 men.

Bonello charged out of goal to block Stephen Wellman's run just outside the area and referee Saviour Tanti quickly brandished the red card as he judged that the Sliema goalkeeper had denied Qormi a clear scoring opportunity.

Bartolo was the one making way for reserve goalkeeper Simon Agius.

On 21 minutes, the hard-working Alex Muscat was almost through on goal but a challenge by Qormi's Ramon Dos Santos thwarted the Sliema wingback.

Qormi protested for a penalty on the half hour when Agius dashed off the line to try and field a cross but in so doing, he collided with Chucks Nwoko. The referee saw nothing untoward.

The exchanges remained tedious with neither side managing to create any chances.

The only attempts at goal before the half-time whistle arrived four minutes from the break.

Wellman's long-range drive from a free-kick flew wide and, at the other end, Muscat was first to a Roderick Bajada corner but his header bounced wide.

Eight minutes into the second half, Sliema almost took the lead. Qormi goalkeeper Reuben Gauci ran out of goal to block a run by Victor Coto and the ball fell into the path of Noel Turner who tried to chip home. The Sliema captain was unlucky to see the ball bounce off the bar.

Sliema were forced to make their second change on 58 minutes when midfielder Mark Scerri limped off injured. He was replaced by Branko Nisevic.

On 65 minutes, Muscat's cross picked out Turner whose volley was blocked for a corner by Shaun Tellus. From the ensuing flag-kick, the ball again fell to Turner whose fierce volley was touched over the bar by Gauci.

Sliema were playing the better football now but 13 minutes from time, it was Qormi who broke the deadlock.

The Sliema defence failed to deal with a long throughball towards Chetcuti who raced into the area and lobbed the ball over Agius.

Qormi's joy didn't last long as nine minutes from time, Sliema were awarded a penalty when Dos Santos fouled Coto in the area. Tanti pointed to the spot and dismissed Dos Santos as this was his second bookable offence.

Romanian defender Dronca stepped up for the penalty kick and coolly despatched the ball past Gauci.

Qormi pushed forward in the dying stages but they never threatened to score with Sliema doing enough to hold out for a point.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello, A. Muscat-7, I. Azzopardi-6, N. Turner-6.5, M. Scerri-6 ('58 B. Nisevic-5.5), M. Bartolo ('4 S. Agius-6.5), J. Chetcuti-6, L. Dronca-6.5, I. Ciantar-5.5, V. Coto-6, R. Bajada-6.5.

Qormi
R. Gauci-6, C. Ciantar-6.5, R. Dos Santos, S. Tellus-6, R. Sammut-6, P. Camilleri-5.5 ('88 P. Saliba), M. Borg-5, J. Chetcuti-6.5, J. Farrugia-7, S. Wellman-6, C. Nwoko-4 ('62 C. Vella-5.5).

Scorers: Dronca 81 pen. (Sliema), Chetcuti 78 (Qormi)

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Yellow cards: Wellman; Farrugia; Dos Santos; Bajada; Muscat; C. Ciantar.

Red cards: Bonello (S) 3; Dos Santos (Q) 81.

BOV player of the match: Joseph Farrugia (Qormi).