Four-goal Camilo puts Qormi back on top

Qormi 6
Camilo 13, 33, 35, 58; Effiong 47; Farrugia 80 pen.
Floriana 2
Darmanin 22, 79

There is simply no containing Qormi on occasions like these.

To gaze at the sight of Jesmond Zerafa's side shredding Floriana was to acknowledge that, where Valletta have the strength in depth and Birkirkara excel in tactical nous, Qormi boast the firepower to keep them at the top of the table. At their slick best, this side is utterly irresistible.

Camilo again underlined his status as the best striker in circulation when netting a poker of goals as Qormi put on a remarkable show of attacking football to which Floriana simply had no response.

Ryan Deguara, who had one of his most effective performances for Qormi, was a strong candidate for man of the match but in the end was eclipsed by the heroics of Camilo who was well supported by his strike partner Alfred Effiong.

The Yellows yesterday all but put behind them their poor display in the 5-2 defeat to Birkirkara last weekend to go back on top of the Premier League standings, two points ahead of Valletta, who face Birkirkara today.

Camilo put Qormi ahead after only 13 minutes when the Brazilian sneaked in between Floriana defenders Duncan Pisani and Brian Said to head the ball past goalkeeper Jurgen Micallef following a Ramon Dos Santos free-kick.

Floriana, who were playing their first match since the departure of coach Roddy Collins, were quick to respond and Ryan Darmanin levelled matters nine minutes later, when he fired the ball home from inside the area.

Deguara started to torment the Greens with his surging runs that opened acres of space in the Floriana defence.

It was no surprise when on 33 minutes Qormi were back in front. Camilo was at it again as he beat Micallef with a diving header from a Deguara cross.

Qormi stretched their lead further two minutes later with another goal from Camilo. Effiong's goalbound header was cleared off the line by Julian Briffa but in came Camilo who lifted the ball over Micallef.

For a while it seemed inevitable Qormi would add to their lead but late in the half Floriana began to assert some measure of control.

A minute from the interval, Darmanin was unlucky not to add a second goal to his name when his fine volley came off the woodwork.

Poor defensive organisation cost dearly to Floriana just after half-time when Keith Fenech's rasping drive was too hot to handle for Micallef who could only partially save and in came Effiong who slotted the ball into the net.

Here, Floriana seemed to have lost the plot as Qormi were now in total control.

On 58 minutes, Camilo sealed a five-star performance when he stabbed the ball home after a brilliant cross from Effiong to chalk up his fourth goal of the match.

Darmanin gave Floriana the briefest of lifelines when he controlled a cross from the right before smashing the ball beyond Farrugia on 79 minutes.

But Qormi soon restored their four-goal advantage when Joseph Farrugia scored from the penalty spot with an emphatic conversion after Julian Briffa had brought down Camilo as the Brazilian turned into the box.

With Floriana in complete disarray, Qormi were awarded a second penalty when Briffa hauled Stephen Meilak down in the area. The Floriana defender was shown the red card after collecting his second yellow card.

But there was some reprieve for the Greens when Joseph Chetcuti's weak penalty was saved by Micallef just before the final whistle.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, R. Dos Santos-6.5, R. Sammut-6, J. Bondin-6, S. Wellman-6 , J. Farrugia-7, K. Fenech-6.5 ('85Meilak) , M. Grima-6 ('88 Buttigieg), R. Deguara-7.5, A. Effiong-7.5, Camilo-8 ('90 J. Chetcuti).

Floriana
J. Micallef-4.5, D. Pisani-4.5, C. Ciantar-5, B. Said-5, J. Briffa, O. Anonam-5, P. Doffo-6, S. Wasiu-6, R. Darmanin-6.5, J. Borg-5 ('63 M. Spiteri), M. Briffa-5.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Doffo, Said, J. Briffa, Effiong.

Red Card: J. Briffa (F) 90.

Missed penalty: Chetcuti (Q) 90.

BoV player of the match: Camilo (Qormi).