Balzan 4

Conceicao 10, 66; N’Dekre 57; Darmanin 83

Qormi 4

Chetcuti 43; Effiong 52, 64; Cassar 80

Balzan and Qormi served up a spectacle that included everything – from brilliant goals to dramatic finale in a match which was a good advert for Maltese football.

Qormi were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as Balzan took the lead on 10 minutes thanks to Renato Conceicao. Roderick Sammut hesitated as the ball dropped in the penalty area and when the defender eventually decided to deal with it he succeeded only in driving it at Dylan Grima. The rebound fell favourably to Renato Conceicao who stormed into the box and drilled a low shot past Farrugia.

Yet, two minutes from half-time, Qormi levelled. Joseph Chetcuti got himself on the end of a Avila Perez cross before he slotted the ball into the net with Effiong’s dummy fooling the Balzan goalkeeper.

The equaliser had an uplifting effect on Qormi as the Yellow-Blacks took the lead after 52 minutes. Avila Peres has again the provider when the Spaniard showed great vision to release Effiong who blasted the ball into the net. Shy of the hour mark, Stefan Giglio smacked a free-kick beyond Farrugia but the ball ricocheted off both posts but the rebound dropped at Elie Moises N’Dekre’s feet who buried the ball behind the goalkeeper.

But seven later, Balzan fell behind again when Chetcuti’s movement and pace were causing Balzan all sorts of problems and he raced through the unsteady defence, before playing off Effiong who made a surging run into the box to fire into the net. 

Qormi’s joy was short-lived and barely one minute later, Balzan drew level again. Running on to Jacob Borg’s pass, Renato Conceicao beat Farrugia with a fierce grounder.

The better football was always played by Qormi and their fans were treated to a gem of a goal on 80 minutes as substitute Christian Cassar’s thumping effort soared past Tabone.

In another demonstration of resilience and never-say-die spirit, Balzan found another crash in the Qormi’s defence. Aboulezz’s corner was met with a glancing far-post header by Darminin that flew in off the bar.