Qormi debutant Sanvezzo sinks Wanderers

Qormi 1
Sanvezzo 69
Sliema Wanderers 0

Camillo Da Silva Sanvezzo made a sparkling debut for Qormi as the Brazilian forward struck a vital winner to lead his new team to a stunning victory over Sliema Wanderers.

It was no surprise that the out-and-out striker scored the goal that mattered for Jesmond Zerafa's side as he fitted perfectly with his new team-mates, showing good understanding with Alfred Effiong. The Brazilian oozed class with the ball at his feet as the Sliema rearguard struggled to contain his pace.

Massimo Grima also had a good match for Qormi who were more direct in their play and should have wrapped up the game in the first half.

Sliema only created some decent goalscoring opportunities in the dying minutes but then it was too late as Qormi cruised through.

For the Blues, who were missing injured striker Ivan Woods, this was their second competitive outing after they beat Vittoriosa Stars 3-0, a game which was declared null following the Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices's decision to demote Vittoriosa to Division One.

Qormi were by far the better side in the first half and it was only goalkeeper Simon Agius who kept them in the game with some fine saves. The Blues rarely looked dangerous with their only attempts at goals coming from shots from the distance.

Sliema made two changes from the match against Vittoriosa with veteran Noel Turner coming in for Matthew Bartolo and Miguel Ciantar starting the match in midfield with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Clayton Failla deployed as the main strikers.

Qormi showed their intentions as early as the first minute when a Grima free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Agius whose touch prevented the ball from just sneaking in.

Six minutes later Miguel Ciantar played a good one-two with Ian Azzopardi and from just inside the area hit a first-time effort with the ball finishing just over.

Qormi had another good chance to take the lead when Sanvezzo was put through by Joseph Chetcuti with the Brazilian lobbing the ball just over the bar.

On 21 minutes Sliema came close again when Failla's drive was tipped over for a corner by Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper.

Agius came to Sliema's rescue on the half-hour when he pushed away Effiong's shot after the Nigerian received a fine throughball from Sanvezzo.

Just before the break, Sanvezzo was again denied by Agius who tipped away his effort.

The match's rhythm slowed down after the interval with Qormi threatening again when Effiong's shot was again stopped by Simon Agius.

But Qormi finally found the breakthrough on 69 minutes when Sanvezzo sped past the Sliema defence to meet Grima's throughball and directed the ball past the onrushing Agius.

Here, Sliema tried to hit back but their best chance came late on when two minutes from time Mifsud Triganza's header was pushed away by Farrugia and seconds later Azzopardi's shot finished just over.

Sliema continued to pile up the pressure in time added on when substitute Clifford Gatt Baldacchino brought the best off Farrugia.

But four minutes into injury time Ryan Deguara should have sealed the points for Qormi but shot wide from another quick raid.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-7, R. Dos Santos-7, M. Grima-7.5, K. Fenech-6.5, A. Effiong 7.5 ('90 S. Meilak), J. Chetcuti-6.5, J. Farrugia-6 ('62 R. Deguara), R. Sammut-6, C. Da Silva Sanvezzo-8.5 ('86 M. Buttigieg), J. Bondin-6, S. Pace-6.

Sliema
S. Agius-8, A. Muscat-6, I. Azzopardi-5.5, J. Mifsud-5.5, R. Fenech-5.5, N. Turner-5 ('85 C. Gatt Baldacchino), J. Pierre Mifsud Triganza-5.5, M. Ciantar-6.5 ('65 J. Mintoff), L. Dronca-6, I. Ciantar-5.5, C. Failla-6 ('77 M. Bartolo).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: I. Ciantar, Sanvezzo, Grima, Muscat.

BoV Player of the Match: Camillo Da Silva Sanvezzo (Qormi).