Qormi dent Mqabba's survival hopes

MQABBA-0, QORMI-1

Qormi inflicted a hammer blow to Mqabba's survival hopes after beating them 1-0 in a thrilling Relegation Pool encounter at the Hibs Stadium this evening.

Mqabba gave their all to take something from this match against a Qormi side who secured their top-flight status last weekend but their task became almost impossible after goalkeeper Kris Calleja was sent off in the second half and Jorginho scored what proved to be the winner 18 minutes from time.

Defeat leaves Mqabba second from bottom on 21 points, three fewer than Mosta with only one game left.

Eight minutes into the game, Qormi captain Joseph Farrugia dragged in a dangerous cross from a left-wing corner but the ball finished over the crossbar.

Seven minutes later, Claudio Calleja direct a strong drive towards goal but Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia managed to tip the ball over the bar.

The intensity of the exchanges increased as the first half progressed.

Kris Calleja, the Mqabba goalkeeper, also distinguished himself with a save to keep out Jorginho's curler after the Brazilian had moved past Pierre Grima.

Mqabba won a corner midway into the first half but David Fenech's cross was headed away by Triston Caruana.

The two teams continued to battle hard to gain some form of control but scoring chances were few as the two defences held firm.

Farrugia served Jorginho with a lofted pass but the Brazilian forward hit over from inside the box.

In first-half stoppage, Qormi defender Roderick Sammut broke down a dangerous Mqabba attack when clearing the ball away from Mazzittelli after Grima's cross had been deflected into the Brazilian striker's path.

Early in the second half, Abubakar Bello-Osagie surged into the box from the right but his cross-shot found no takers.

Mqabba goalkeeper Calleja then beat away Jorginho's swerving free-kick.

A minute past the hour, Bello-Osagie powered his way into the box only to shoot wide with only Calleja to beat.

Mqabba were let off the hook but, moments later, they suffered severe setback. A rare mistake by their defenders allowed Bello-Osagie to pick up a loose ball just outside the area and go for goal ooly for the Nigerian winger to be brought down by Calleja.

Referee Marco Borg whistled a penalty in favour of Qormi and dismissed the Mqabba goalkeeper, prompting Mizzi to bring on reserve goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi for Claudio Calleja.

Bello-Osagie marched forward to take the penalty but skewed his shot over the bar.

Relieved, Mqabba gained courage. They threatened to forge ahead as Fenech ran into the box and delivered a cross-shot that rolled past Farrugia but Sammut cleared before Mamic could poke the ball into the net at the far post.

Qormi opened the scoring 16 minutes from time, Jorginho finding the net with a low free-kick after the Brazilian had been upended by Azzopardi on the edge of the box.

Rene Duca, who had just come on for Julian Briffa, almost levelled for Mqabba but his diagonal drive missed the target by a whisker.

Tempers boiled over as Ryan Sammut felled Jorginho with a late tackle.

Mqabba president Mario Borg was ordered off the bench for remarks he passed to the referee as a minor skirmish broke in the side occupied by the Mqabba fans.

Qormi forward Jorginho was voted BOV player of the match.