Qormi 3 Sirito 9; Bello-Osagie 31 (pen.), 65; Rabat A 0
Qormi's growing confidence that they can clinch a top-six berth received a significant boost this afternoon. Taking on relegation candidates Rabat Ajax, Jesmond Zerafa's troops put a slick attacking performance to dominate the encounter from start to finish.
Qormi almost took the lead after just 54 seconds in bizarre circumstances. Leighton Grech made headaway down the right flank and his cross-cum-shot turned into a dangerous attempt that took Jonathan Azzopardi by surprise. The Rabat goalkeeper first fumbled the ball but grabbed it with his second attempt.
But Qormi did not have to wait too long to seize the lead. The speed and techinque of Grech again came to the fore after nine minutes whenhe supplied a through-pass to Sirito who dispatched a low shot past Azzopardi.
On the quarter of hour mark, the dynamic Grech showed sheer persistance in bursting into the area from the right, leaving theRabat defence in his wake but his mazy run was blocked by the onrushing Azzopardi.
Five minutes later, Qormi threatened to double their lead. Grech again outpaced David Azzopardi and squared the ball for Sirito who seemed certain to tuck the ball home but his effort cannoned off the upright.
On the flanks, Chetcuti and Grech were causing Rabat all sorts of problems. After 26 minutes, Chetcuti cutting infrom the left drew his man before playing in Grech who controlled before firing just wide.
Given the difficult start to the match, Vella tried to shore up the defence by bringing on Patrick Borg for Yan Cauchi on the half hour.The Rabat mentor redesigned his back-four which saw Borg at right-backand Dylan Falzon switched on the other flank.
David Azzopardi moved up in midfield. But Rabat were still adjusting to the changes when Qormi struck again. Sirito darted into the box and went down under the challenge of Clive Brincat. Referee Chris Lautier's hand pointed tothe penlty spot. From the ensuing spot-kick, Bello-Osagie made nomistake.
Whatever Vella said to his players during the half-time talk worked as the Magpies took he field with renewed verve. With Backhaus and Joseph Caruana asserting themselves in midfield, Rabat seized the intiative, forcing a number of flag-kicks from the right where they started to make inroads.
Former Malta defender Stephen Wellman made a comeback – he last played for Qormi in August - on the hour mark to replace the injured Roderick Sammut. And few moments later, Rabat shouted penalty when Borg aimed a shot that was stopped by Jonathan Bondin's outstretched hands but to their dismay, the referee pointed to the corner flag.
And Rabat's frustration grew four minutes later when a charging run from Bello-Osagie disconcerted their defence and none of their players managed to close down the Nigerian midfielder who rifled in an unstoppable grounder.
Little had been seen of Rabat's attack, a low 20-metre shot from Manuel Fuster that was repelled by Matthew Farrugia after 75 minutes, being no more than a token effort.
Eight minutes from time, Bello-Osagie was treated to a standing ovation as he made way for Gabriel Buttigieg. And Buttigeig almost marked his arrival with a goal as he sent a thunderous shot just overthe bar.