Qormi 1
Bello-Osagie 90;
Birkirkara 1
Vukanac 38;
Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa must have relished the satisfaction of emerging unscathed from this match against Birkirkara as this was the first point for the Yellow-Blacks under the former Valletta mentor.
Ironically, Qormi also did a small favour to the Citizens as it meant that the Stripes failed to move to within striking distance of the Premier League leaders.
In his post-match comments, Zerafa stressed that he was only delighted with the response of his players as Qormi chalked up a priceless point to slightly improve their precarious position in the lower half of the standings.
Birkirkara had harboured hopes of bridging the gap with Valletta when they broke the deadlock seven minutes from half-time.
Most of the Premier League teams may have crumbled after such blow but not Qormi who demonstrated their resilience with a stoppage-time equaliser in a dramatic finale.. and there was no surprise who found the net – Abubakar Bello-Osagie.
Birkirkara dominated for long periods and, at times, it looked as though an onslaught was on the cards in the second half. However, the Yellow-Blacks showed tremendous spirit to battle back.
Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was promoted to the starting line-up at the expense of Jhonnattann after he had rescued his side against Hibs in their previous outing.
The other two changes were forced upon coach Paul Zammit as Ryan Scicluna and Paul Fenech, returning after seeing out a one-match ban, replaced Zach Muscat (suspended) and Shola Shodiya Haruna (out with groin trouble).
Looking to pick up his first points since replacing Stephen Azzopardi on the Qormi bench, Zerafa effected two changes from the team that took the field against Ħamrun.
Matthew Gauci was preferred to Leighton Grech as Joseph Chetcuti replaced Gaetan Spiteri.
Zammit tweaked his traditional 4-3-3 configuration by deploying Mifsud Triganza as an attacking fulcrum with Scicluna and Ryan Camenzuli running the wings and Fenech and Rowen Muscat pushing through the middle.
Despite the recent negative trend, Zerafa refused to abandon his attacking principles as he opted for a three-pronged forward line that included Bello-Osagie, Vincenzo Pisani and Chetcuti.
Qormi started in bright fashion, thanks mainly to better movement from their forwards and support from the flanks. The scoreboard marked 11 minutes when Matthew Bartolo tested waters with a pulverising shot that ended just over.
Zerafa’s troops were playing with width and penetration as Bello-Osagie stood out for the frequency with which he bewildered the Bir-kirkara rearguard. On 15 minutes, the Nigerian looked menacing down the left wing, leaving the Stripes defence in his wake but his ensuing delivery let him down.
It was not before 17 minutes had elapsed that Birkirkara had their first glimpse of Qormi’s goal. Camenzuli pounced on a loose ball to fire a low drive that finished just off target.
Qormi faded after that bright start as Birkirkara gradually worked their way into the game.
On 26 minutes, Mifsud Triganza’s header, from Fenech’s cross, forced Matthew Farrugia to nudge the ball away for a corner.
But having failed to heed that warning, Qormi fell behind after 38 minutes. The modus operandi was the same as Camenzuli’s set-piece cross soared towards the far side of Qormi’s box and defender Nikola Vukanac scored with a glancing header in the top corner.
Birkirkara’s sprightly approach at the start of the second half had Qormi on the ropes.
Camenzuli’s run on 51 minutes went unchecked as he surged into the box before unleashing a piledriver that required Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, to produce a smart save to push it out.
That turned out to be Farrugia’s last contribution as he needed medical attention after barging into an opponent to cut out a cross. He was replaced by Steve Sultana.
Zammit tried to apply the killer touch by introducing a striker, Jhonnattann, for a midfielder, Scicluna.
Yet the move left the opposite effect on the Stripes as the proceedings livened up.
Qormi upped the tempo with Bello-Osagie roaming to good effect. Sultana’s first intervention was to palm away a Jhonnattann free-kick after 68 minutes.
Two minutes later, the pressure on Birkirkara mounted as they finished with 10 men after Edward Herrera was shown a straight red card after hauling down Edison Bilboa Zarate.
Chetcuti should have equalised in the 78th minute but he fluffled his chance by opting to pass to Pisani instead of shooting and Alejandro Mendoza-Corujo cleared.
High on confidence, Qormi surged forward and running on to a through-pass from Bello-Osagie, substitute Sebastiano Sirito dashed into the box but the Birkirkara goalkeeper blocked his effort.
Four minutes later, Reuben Gauci denied Qormi again as he touched away Kris Thackray’s free-kick, given for Vukanac’s charge on Bello-Osagie.
As Birkirkara were struggling to contain Qormi’s late surge, the fourth official’s board signalled eight minutes of stoppage time.
So, it was obvious that Zammit’s men were disappointed when, on 94 minutes, Zarate slipped past his marker before squaring the ball for Sirito whose shot ricocheted off the underside of the bar. The rebound dropped at Bello-Osagie’s feet who buried the ball behind Gauci.
Confusion ensued moments later when referee Marco Borg booked Zarate and followed it with a red card, only to retract his decision seconds later after realising that the Argentine midfielder had not been cautioned before.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-6 (58 S. Sultana-5), K. Thackray-6, R. Sammut-6, M. Bartolo-5 (62 L. Grech-5), V. Pisani-6 (81 S. Sirito-4.5), J. Chetcuti-6, A. Bello-Osagie-8.5, L. Sciberras-6, M. Gauci-6, E. Bilboa Zarate-8, J. Bondin-5.5.
Birkirkara
R. Gauci-7, R. Scicluna-6 (62 Jhonnattann-4.5), N. Vukanac-6.5, J. Zerafa-5.5, R. Camenzuli-6.5 (80 G. McKay), R. Muscat-6, G. Sciberras-6, A. Mendoza Corujo-6.5, P. Fenech-6, J. Mifsud Triganza-6 (86 A. Borg), E. Herrera.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Muscat; Sammut; Sciberras; Pisani; Chetcuti; Edison.
Red card: Herrera (B) 70.
BOV player of the match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).
Attendance: 987.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 7 | 24 |
| Birkirkara | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 20 |
| Mosta | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 12 | 19 |
| Sliema W. | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 10 | 19 |
| Hibernians | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 19 |
| Tarxien | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 17 |
| Ħamrun | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 21 | 13 |
| Balzan | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
| Floriana | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 9 |
| Qormi | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 8 |
| Melita | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 4 |
| Rabat Ajax | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 3 |