Qormi 2
Thackray 21; Bello-Osagie 24;
Melita 3
Negrin 14, 27; Sammut 47;
The name of Melita’s new shirt sponsor is quickfocus.com.
In keeping with the website address of the club’s new backers, the Amateurs finally found their focus in attack yesterday as Jose Luis Armaro Negrin struck a brace to inspire his team to their first Premier League victory at the expense of Qormi.
The attention before kick-off had been on Jesmond Zerafa who was taking charge of his first game since rejoining Qormi on Friday.
However, the former Valletta coach endured a frustrating debut as his charges crashed to an unexpected defeat.
Qormi had overcome the setback of conceding an early goal as they hit back to go 2-1 up but Negrin got his second minutes later and the resolute Melita didn’t look back.
It had been end-to-end stuff in a first half marked by good attacking football and abject defending as Melita and Qormi traded four goals but the Amateurs closed ranks after Luke Sammut fired them 3-2 up soon after the restart.
What ensued was a long spell of Qormi pressure but their chaotic efforts were quelled by Melita who grew in composure.
They stoically clung on to their slim lead to snap their winless run and move off the bottom of the table, much to the relief of their coach Martin Gregory, the club officials in the VIP zone and their supporters.
Gregory favoured a straightforward 4-1-4-1 with Negrin at the apex of Melita’s formation and fellow Spaniard Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho occupying the holding midfielder’s role.
Sammut was roped into the team to replace Michael Martin, who has been unwell, while the returning Karl Vella Petroni was also back in the fray.
For his part, Zerafa refrained from tinkering with Qormi’s formation, making only one change to the team that started the 2-2 draw with Floriana. Matthew Farrugia regained his place in goal and Steve Sultana started on the bench.
The strategy adopted by Zerafa was a kind of 4-2-3-1 with Gaetan Spiteri floating behind Vincenzo Pisani, Qormi’s target man, and Abubakar Bello-Osagie and Leighton Grech on the wings.
Qormi enjoyed more possession initially but it was Melita who stormed ahead after 14 minutes. Negrin evaded the attentions of the Qormi defence as he ran through to reach Julian Galea’s intelligent pass before beating Farrugia with a perfect lob.
Negrin threatened again when, having pounced on a defensive mistake, he surged into the box but Kris Thackray darted backward to block the Spanish striker’s shot.
On 21 minutes, Thackray left his mark at the other end of the pitch as his excellent free-kick ripped past the helpless Matthew Sapiano.
And three minutes later, Qormi seized the lead. Melita were again reduced to chasing shadows as George Gribbon tripped the advancing Pisani just outside the box. This time the free-kick was taken by Bello-Osagie who curled the ball beyond the wall and into the net.
Qormi’s two-goal spurt was a psychological setback for Melita but the Reds secured an immediate boost in the shape of an equaliser.
The game was 27 minutes old when Matthew Borg’s throw-in was headed backward by Ivan Tufegdzic and, amid the ensuing melee, Negrin poked the ball home.
The game continued to oscillate from one end to the other. Qormi almost went 3-2 up when Pisani intercepted a pass and delivered a perfect cross to Spiteri but the latter’s header flew straight at Gribbon.
Melita’s two Spaniards combined on 37 minutes to create an opening. Sierra Camacho squared to Negrin who slipped his marker with a back-heeled flick but his final effort was off target.
The stocky Negrin was proving a handful for Qormi with his ability to shield the ball and run into space. Two minutes from half-time, Qormi gave away a free-kick after a foul on Negrin and Camacho’s effort from an angled position shook the far post.
That was the last noteworthy action of an enjoyable first half between two sides committed to playing attacking football but who were somewhat vulnerable at the back.
Qormi were guilty of more woeful defending when, less than two minutes into the second half, Melita made it 3-2.
Negrin was the catalyst as he advanced before passing to Julian Galea whose cross-cum-shot was turned in by Sammut at the far post.
A goal down, Qormi took a while to make a reaction.
Thackray was conspicuous with a diagonal run into the box but his shot was blocked. On another occasion, Grech’s delivery from the right was deflected over the bar by Tufegdzic.
Bello-Osagie was wide with another free-kick as Qormi’s pressure increased while Melita dropped deeper as the minutes ticked away.
With 11 minutes remaining, Jovan Vukanic’s free-kick was easily dealt with by Farrugia. The Qormi goalkeeper kept his team in the game when pawing away Nigel Rizzo’s long-range drive.
Having weathered the pressure, Melita regained the upperhand in the closing stages.
A minute from time, they lost their main attacking weapon as Negrin picked up an injury.
But, Gregory’s men held on to collect their first ever win in the Premier League.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, K. Thackray-6.5, R. Sammut-5, M. Bartolo-5, V. Pisani-5 (68 S. Sirito-4), A. Bello-Osagie-6.5, L. Sciberras-5, Edison Zarate-6, G. Spiteri-5 (46 J. Chetcuti-5), J. Bondin-6 (72 M. Gauci), L. Grech-5.
Melita
M. Sapiano-5, M. Borg-6, I. Tufegdzic-6.5, G. Gribbon-6, M.R. Sierra Camacho-7, N. Rizzo-6.5, J. Galea-6.5, L. Sammut-6.5 (82 A. Caruana Scicluna), K. Vella Petroni-6 (52 L. Micallef-6), J. Vukanic-6, L.J. Amaro Negrin-7.5 (89 M. Cachia).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Vella Petroni; Tufegdzic.
BOV player of the match: Jose Luis Armaro Negrin (Melita).