Qormi 5
Pembroke Athleta 2
(90 mins: 2-2; after extra-time)
Qormi showed their true mettle in extra-time after having thrown away a two-goal lead and missed a hatful of chances against modest Division Two side Pembroke Athleta.
Jesmond Zerafa’s team got the start they wanted when after nine minute Edison Bilbao Zarate headed them into the lead from a Kris Thackray free-kick.
Qormi held the initiative and on 27 minutes Abubaker Bello-Osagie made it 2-0 when he flicked the ball home from close range from a corner.
The tie looked over but three minutes before the break Pembroke came back in it when Daniel Cremona beat Steve Sultana from close range.
Qormi started the second half on the attack and on 51 minutes Jonathan Vella made a superb save off a Sebastiano Sirito shot. Kane Micallef then hit a first time effort from outside the area with the ball finishing just over the crossbar.
Zerafa’s men had other good chances to restore a two-goal cushion but missed their chances and six minutes from time they paid for their lapses when Lydon Cilia made it 2-2 with a shot from just outside the box.
This was a struggle Qormi should have avoided but they were soon back in front as extra-time got underway when Sirito played a good one-two with Bello-Osagie to shoot home from just inside the box.
The match was soon over as the second half of extra-time got underway when Bondin scored two quick goals to make his team’s victory more pronounced.
Qormi: S. Sultana, C. Thackray, J. Chetcuti (C. Farrugia), A. Bello-Osagie, M. Gauci, S. Sirito, E. Bilbao Zarate, J. Bondin (D. Pirotta), A. Cassar, S. Wellman, L. Grech (L. Sciberras).
Pembroke: M. Carter (J. Vella), M. Mamo, A. Attard, L. Cilia, V. Martinovic, J. Mifsud, J. Roland Emeka (M. Borg), R. Caruana, G. Spiteri, D. Cremona (A. Galea) , K. Micallef.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.