Qormi thump Rabat in group match

Qormi 6
Rabat Depiro 1

With both teams already through to the second phase of the Challenge Cup, the match only served to establish which team will go top of Group A and meet the runners-up of Group B.

Qormi won their first short corner on seven minutes from which they were awarded a penalty stroke when R. Aquilina stopped the ball from entering the net with his foot.

Andre Ghio made it 1-0 from the spot.

Qormi kept up the pressure and five minutes later doubled through a deflection by Phillip Magri ­following another short corner ­ set-piece.

Qormi were now all over their opponents and by the 15th minute added goal no. 3 with a hard drive by Ryan Brincat. After this third goal Qormi eased the pressure and Rabat started coming more in the picture.

In the second half, Rabat came all out to salvage the game and pulled one back through James Azzopardi from a penalty corner.

Rabat had the chance to re-open the match soon after when they were awarded another penalty stroke, however, James Azzopardi saw his effort going just out.

Qormi coach Ray Micallef immediately made some timely substitutions and in a space of three minutes Qormi scored two goals through Stephen Tanti and Phillip Magri.

The game was won and lost with Qormi adding a sixth on 57 minutes through young Julian Zahra who finished a defence-splitting move by Phillip Magri and Saul Halladay.

White Hart 1
Sliema Hotsticks 0

White Hart were somewhat lucky to finish unscathed.

After a shaky start Sliema almost drew first blood when ­Silvano Vassallo’s effort was stopped on the fatal line by Simon Agius and finally cleared by Keith Laferla.

White Hart’s reaction was immediate and from a short corner Andre Imbroll cleared off the goal line with the keeper beaten.

White Hart scored the goal that mattered on 18 minutes through Luke Borg Costanzi following a short corner move.

Pat Meli denied Sliema from scoring by tapping the ball round the post with Vassallo Agius beaten.

Sliema kept up the pace and were unlucky not to level when Ryan George beat Vassallo Agius only to see his push coming off the upright.

The second half was practically all Sliema’s and White Hart had only their custodian to thank for his five-star performance.

Now, White Hart will meet Rabat in the semi-finals with Qormi clashing against either Young Stars or Sliema.