Hibernians 0
Qormi 1
Grech 81;
Qormi’s quest to play in the Championship Pool gathered further momentum when they shocked title challengers Hibernians, yesterday.
Leighton Grech was the hero for the Yellow-Blacks as the young winger grabbed the all-important goal nine minutes from time to secure his team’s third successive victory, an out-come that continues to add more steam to Qormi’s charge towards a top-six finish.
Jesmond Zerafa’s team are now just two points adrift of sixth-placed Balzan in the standings.
It was a resolute performance from Qormi who although forced to weather the Hibs’ storm for long stretches, they waited patiently to hit their opponents on the break courtesy of their speedy forwards with Aboubaker Bello-Osagie, Joseph Chetcuti and Edison Bilbao Zarate always a threat.
Hibernians have only themselves to blame for this setback as despite enjoying the bulk of possession they struggled to create decent scoring chances and had to rely time and again on individual play from their forwards to try and break Qormi’s resistance.
Yesterday, Hibs were led from the bench by assistant coach Ndubisi Chukunyere as Michael Woods was completing a two-match touchline ban.
They effected one change from the team that beat Mosta 1-0 last week. The promising Scott Chircop was handed a rare start in place of Adrian Pulis, who was serving a one-match ban, while Jackson Lima remained sidelined with knee trouble.
Qormi were without Roderick Sammut, who is still not 100 per cent fit, while Matthew Gauci missed out due to suspension.
As their replacements, Zerafa roped in Stephen Wellman, who was making his first start since August, and Luke Sciberras.
It was Hibs who created the first chance of the match after 15 minutes when Marcelo Dias won a free-kick just outside the area and Clayton Failla saw his fierce shot going just over.
At the other end, Chetcuti tried his luck from the distance but his shot never troubled goalkeeper Mario Muscat.
Dias remained a threat for Qormi on the right wing and on 19 minutes the Brazilian sped past his marker before delivering an inviting centre into the six-yard box only for Andrew Cohen and Anderson Ribeiro to fail to make contact in front of goal.
Jonathan Bondin looked hesitant inside his penalty area on 24 minutes. In came Dias who stole possession but, luckily for Qormi, he was blocked by their onrushing goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.
Qormi shouted penalty when Zoran Levnaic looked to have pushed Bello-Osagie inside the Hibs box but referee Trustan Farrugia Cann waved play on.
As the minutes ticked by, Qormi started to become more threatening to the Hibs defensive lines as the pace of Sebastiano Siritto, Zarate and Bello-Osagie was proving a hatful for the Paolites.
Three minutes from half-time, Qormi had their best chance when Bello-Osagie dribbled his way past two defenders but his rasping grounder was expertly dealt with by Muscat.
A minute later, Hibs were unlucky not to have taken the lead when Ribeiro’s shot was deflected into the path of Cohen who, with only Farrugia to beat, saw his shot coming off the bar.
The match was evenly balanced as the first minutes of second half were played with both teams showing little creativity in the last third of the pitch.
Chukunyere was clearly unhappy with Hibs’ attacking display and four minutes shy of the hour he withdrew the disappointing Udo Nwoko and roped in John Nwoba as he looked to add pace to his team’s forward play.
However, it was Qormi who almost struck an opener when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Wellman saw his effort coming off the upright with Muscat beaten.
Frustration was starting to creep inside the Hibs players as the match was drawing towards a conclusion.
That feeling turned into despair when in a quick break on 81 minutes Chetcuti released Grech who sped past Rodolfo Soares before planting the ball beyond Muscat’s reach.
Hibs’ response to that setback was to introduce striker Jean Paul Farrugia for defender Levnaic as the Paolites threw caution to the wind and surged forward in attack.
However, despite their bold efforts Hibs were unable to breach the solid Qormi rearguard and at the final whistle it was Zerafa and his men who were celebrating another important victory.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5.5, S. Chircop-6, R. Soares-6, R. Camilleri-6, Z. Levnaic-6 (84 J.P. Farrugia), B. Kristensen-5.5, U. Nwoko-5 (56 J. Nwoba-5), A. Ribeiro-5 (69 A.K. Dos Santos-5), C. Failla-6, M. Dias-6.5, A. Cohen-6.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-6.5, K. Thackray-6.5, J. Chetcuti-7 (86 J. Buttigieg), A. Bello-Osagie-6.5, L. Sciberras-6, S. Siritto-6.5, E. Bilboa Zarate-7.5, J. Bondin-5.5, A. Cassar-6, S. Wellman-6.5, L. Grech-6.5.
Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Wellman, Nwoko, Bondin, Levnaic, Dias, Soares.
BOV Player of the match: Edison Bilbao Zarate (Qormi).