Birkirkara 1
Qormi 2

Last year’s beaten finalists Qormi sprung a surprise as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the KO after beating high-flyers Birkirkara at the Centenary Stadium last night.

Qormi fought bravely, coming back from conceding an early goal to win the only all-Premier League match of this round.

Birkirkara’s failure to translate their first-half dominance into goals, allied with a stroke of bad luck when they hit the goal-frame twice, came to haunt them six minutes from time when Kris Thackray’s piledriver bulged their net for the Qormi winner.

Seven minutes from the initial whistle had elapsed when Ryan Camenzuli provided a reminder of his qualities as he veered infield from the left before rifling past Qormi keeper Steve Sultana to open the score.

Qormi’s false start left them chasing the game but Abubaker Bello-Osagie’s agile movement and pace were causing Birkirkara some problems and on 16 minutes his header crashed against the crossbar.

Play became somewhat nervy but the Stripes’ regrouped and their edge upfront was beyond question. That was underlined on 27 minutes when Camenzuli, a constant menace with his runs on the left flank, saw his swerving 20-metre shot crash against the bar, the ball bouncing off the line much to the relief of the stranded Sultana.

Just before half-time, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza released Haruna Shola who headed goalwards but the effort brushed against the upright.

Qormi drew level five minutes after the break.

Kris Thackray’s attempt at goal was pushed against the post by Reuben Gauci but the rebound fell kindly to Roderick Sammut who made no mistake from close in.

Birkirkara had the ball inside the Qormi net on the hour when Mifsud Triganza rolled the ball past Sultana and Camenzuli ran through to scramble the ball inside the net.

That brought harsh protests from the Qormi players who contended that Camenzuli was offside. The referee first allowed the goal to stand but then went back on his initial decision and ordered play to start with a Qormi free-kick.

At the other end, Zarate picked out Bello-Osagie who ran through but saw Gauci getting his gloves to the shot.

Then, with extra-time looming large, Thackray popped up with the deciding move. Zarate swung in an inviting ball from the left and the Englishman swivelled to beat his marker before beating Gauci with a fierce shot.

Birkirkara suffered another blow late on when Nikola Vukunac was sent off for two bookable offences in quick succession.

Birkirkara: R. Gauci, E. Herrara (46 Z. Muscat), N. Vukanac, A. Mendoza, R. Pereira (78 Joselito), G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, R. Muscat, S. Haruna Shola, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, R. Camenzuli.

Qormi: S. Sultana (94 M. Farrugia), K. Thackray, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo (90 A. Cassar), A. Effiong, A. Bello-Osagie (91 M. Avila Perez), L. Sciberras, M. Gauci, E. Bilboa Zarate, J. Bondin, S. Wellman.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

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