Stripes sink Qormi to stay top

QORMI-0 BIRKIRKARA-2

Birkirkara kept up their march at the top of the Premier League with a deserved 2-0 victory over Qormi in today’s opening match at the National Stadium.

Goals by Michael Galea and George Mallia moved Birkirkara three points clear of Valletta before the latter’s clash with champions Hibs in today’s second game.

Birkirkara were the livelier side in the first half but failed to find a way past the solid Qormi defence.

After five minutes, Sylvano Comvalius swept past Jonathan Bondin in the inside-left channel before putting in a cross-shot that was touched away by Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper.

Scoring chances were rare in the opening half hour. On 27 minutes, Comvalius curled his free-kick past Qormi’s defensive wall but the ball flew over the crossbar.

Qormi had to wait until the 32nd minute to show up in Birkirkara’s box.

From a corner, given after Ramon’s cross from a free-kick had been miscued by Angus Buhagiar, Camilo ran into the box from the left before passing to Matthew Bartolo whose tame effort rolled towards Effiong but the latter hit wide.

Birkirkara opened the scoring three minutes into the second half. After Farrugia had tipped away Tabone’s dangerous shot, the loose ball fell to Comvalius whose cross was headed home by Michael Galea.

The Stripes had several other opportunities to increase their advantage but they were denied time and again by Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, who made a series of fine saves from Comvalius, Cilia and Shaun Bajada.

Farrugia continued to distinguish himself with quickfire saves from substitute Karl Pulo and from another drive by Cilia.

Qormi threatened to equalise in stoppage time but Steve Meilak’s grounder was saved by Jorge Mora. From the ensuing counter-attack, Cilia surged clear but was bundled over by Bondin on the edge of the area. The Qormi right-back was red-carded and George Mallia, a second-half substitute, beat Farrugia with a curling free-kick to seal Birkirkara’s win.

Birkirkara midfielder Rowen Muscat was named player of the match.