Jorginho fires down City

Qormi 4
Farrugia 7; Jorginho 44, 58, 88;
Valletta 3
Denni 8, 77 pen; Scerri 33;

Qormi’s feat is extraordinary but let’s start from the very end... Jorginho’s deep winner will go down in Maltese football history as David finally overcame Goliath and the Yellow-Blacks marked their first-ever competitive win over Valletta.

Jorginho pounced in trademark fashion to beat goalkeeper Andrew Hogg for a third time in the evening and spark hugely contrasting emotions in the technical area.

Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi set off on an impromptu wild dance along the touchline while his counter-part, Jesmond Zerafa, was left motionless. Moments before, the semi-final seemed destined for extra-time after Denni’s penalty 13 minutes from time looked to have earned the league champions a laboured equaliser.

Qormi’s blanket of defensive defiance served them well for a first half spent almost entirely in their territory.

The momentum shifted decisively when Jorginho delivered an unstoppable free-kick just before half-time to put the underdogs back in the game. The second period then presented the Brazilian with his moment of destiny when he completed an extraordinary hat-trick with two other goals to put his team in the final for the second time in three years.

Questions will now start hounding Valletta’s administration and coaching staff as hopes of a league and cup double were shattered for a second consecutive year despite the high expectations on both occasions.

Qormi received a significant boost after Jonathan Bondin, Abubaker Bello-Osagie and Jorginho were all declared fit to start as Azzopardi ditched the experimental line-up that lost against Mosta and brought back the experienced Kris Thackray, Tristan Caruana, Vincent Kouadio and captain Joseph Farrugia.

The only change in Valletta’s starting line was enforced upon Zerafa with striker Terence Scerri replacing suspended wing-back Mady Panandetiguiri.

That move necessitated some positional switches as Roderick Briffa was detailed to push high up the right flank in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Jonathan Carauna scythed down Jorginho to end Qormi’s first serious venture towards the City box on seven minutes.

And Farrugia smashed home a stunning 25-metre free-kick with a delightful right-footer that left Hogg stranded on his goal-line.

Some teams may have crumbled after such an early blow but not Valletta who demonstrated their resilience with an equaliser within 60 seconds of Qormi’s opener.

Denni was allowed space to control the ball before powering his shot into the roof of the net from close in after more good work from Edmond Agius.

After restoring parity, Valletta controlled much of possession as Denni and Ousseni Zongo became increasingly influential, switching flanks to expose Qormi’s defence.

Denni came inches away with a dipping volley from the edge of the box after being set up by Michael Mifsud. But Valletta were not to be denied and on 33 minutes Scerri rose powerfully inside the Qormi box to beat his marker and head home from Denni’s cross.

Moments later, Zongo made light with some fancy footwork on the left flank to cut inside and making room for a shot but Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, pushed his effort to a corner.

Yet, the Valletta rearguard were having a torrid time trying to tame Jorginho, repeatedly resorting to fouls and just before half-time, they conceded another free-kick, this time in perfect territory for the Brazilian on the right-hand side.

Jorginho delivered another calibrated effort that beat the Valletta barrier and flew past the hapless Hogg.

After the break, Zongo thought he had pierced Qormi’s defence again when he arrived unmarked to Briffa’s cross, only to see his effort crashing against the post.

But on 58 minutes, Qormi regained the lead courtesy of a brilliant effort from Jorginho.

After a patient build-up, Farrugia picked up the ball near the half-way line and released the Brazilian who left two Valletta defenders in his wake before hitting hard past Hogg.

Zerafa quickly made a double substitution, with Zongo and William Barbosa making way for Alfred Effiong and Gilbert Agius.

The move soon brought reward when a shot by substitute Agius struck Kouadio’s hand in the area and referee Trustan Farrugia Cann pointing to the spot. From the penalty, Denni sent Farrugia the wrong way to make it 3-3.

Yet, the stadium was a Yellow-Black explosion of joy two minutes from time. After one slick passing move, Jorginho played a one-two with Bello-Osagie before the Brazilian showed great composure to beat a static City defence and hit home with a rasping grounder.

The last chance fell to Valletta but a powerful drive by Mifsud from outside the area was tipped over the bar by the alert Farrugia.

Qormi
M. Farrugia, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, K. Thackray, Jorginho (90 S. Wellman), J. Bondin, A. Bello-Osagie (89 L. Sciberras), T. Caruana, V. Kouadio (80 K. Scicluna).

Valletta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, E. Agius, R. Briffa, T. Scerri, S. Borg, Denni dos Santos, W. Barbosa (66 G. Agius), M. Mifsud, O. Zongo (66 A. Effiong).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: J. Caruana, Bartolo, Sammut, Kouadio.

Today’s semi-final
(National Stadium)
Hibs vs Ħamrun - 7.30 p.m.