Qormi’s Duncan Pisani shadowed by Ryan Cassar, of Naxxar Lions. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Qormi 1
Sammut 45;
Naxxar Lions 2
Gilmar 18, 21;

Two moments of magic from Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro saw newly-promoted Naxxar Lions maintaining their unbeaten start to the Premier League when they saw off a poor Qormi side at Ta’ Qali, yesterday.

The Brazilian schemer was the absolute protagonist as not only did he deliver two exquisite strikes in the space of three first-half minutes but he was also a constant thorn in the Qormi defence with his surging runs creating endless problems to his direct markers.

This was a fine collective effort from the Lions who, inspired by the constant running of midfield duo Pablo Doffo and Andre Rocha Da Silva, never let Qormi settle in the match and could have easily scored a more pronounced victory had they been more lethal in front of goal.

Qormi continued to disappoint and there was no improvement over last week’s 0-4 drubbing to Sliema Wanderers.

Yesterday, Tommaso Volpi’s men looked bereft of ideas and barring a short spell just before half-time they never threatened to ruin Naxxar’s day. No doubt, the team must raise their game by several notches or risk facing a long and hardy battle against the drop.

Volpi yesterday handed a debut to Italian defender Giuseppe Bellucci who came on for his compatriot Leonardo Gabrieli. Winger Leighton Grech and Roderick Sammut were also back in the fray at the expense of Joseph Chetcuti and Federico Santaguida.

Winston Muscat Muscat, the Naxxar coach, gave the nod for Brazilian defender Evaldo to make his first start for the club with Kurt Drago forced to settle for a place on the bench.

The match was shorn of goalscoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes but proceedings were lit up with two moments of brilliance from Gilmar.

The clock marked 18 minutes when the Brazilian procured a free-kick from the edge of the area and he let fly a superb inswinger that gave no chance for Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia to save.

The Yellow-Blacks had little time to react before Gilmar struck again.

He embarked on a surging run that took him past two defenders before hitting a fierce, low drive that flew into the bottom corner of the net.

Qormi finally came close on 23 minutes when Duncan Pisani’s cross-shot was pushed over the bar by Naxxar goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi.

However, two minutes later the woodwork denied Naxxar a third goal when Da Silva hit a sizzling shot that came off the bar with Farrugia beaten.

Muscat was forced to make his first change on the half hour when Terrence Scerri limped off injured. He was replaced by Daren Falzon.

Azzopardi was alert to push out Roderick Bajada’s free-kick but Qormi’s best chance came two minutes later. Effiong surged clear on the left before squaring the ball into the path of Simone Bezziccheri who saw his grounder flash past the upright.

Three minutes from the break, Bajada sent a pin-pointed cross towards Bellucci whose first-time volley was deviated into the path of the unmarked Triston Caruana who skied his effort from routine distance.

Qormi did manage to pull a goal back in stoppage time when the Lions failed to clear a Bajada cross with the ball falling kindly to Sammut who beat Azzopardi with a firm drive.

On the change of ends Naxxar produced the better chances and on 58 minutes Gilmar almost completed his hat-trick.

The Brazilian showed some deft footwork to burst past his shadowers but his grounder was stopped by Farrugia.

Two minutes later, Farrugia again had to be alert to tip over Doffo’s long range shot.

Falzon should have killed off Qormi when he was ably picked by Doffo but his header from close in finished over.

The Qormi goalkeeper then kept his team in the game when he countered Doffo’s menacing free-kick.

Volpi was clearly unhappy with his team’s display and 20 minutes from time he withdrew tBezziccheri and roped in Joseph Chetcuti in a bid to add more flair to his team’s attack.

Thirteen minutes from time Grech’s long range shot flashed just wide of the Lions upright.

But that was the closest Qormi went to spoil Naxxar’s day as the Lions held on for a morale-boosting victory.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, A. Effiong-5, R. Sammut-6.5, G. Bellucci-5, L. Grech-5.5, R. Bajada-5.5, S. Bezziccheri-5 (70 J. Chetcuti-5), T. Caruana-5 (88 F. Santaguida), E. Vella-5, O. Bugeja-5, D. Pisani-5.

Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6, M. Briffa-6.5, A. Buhagiar-6, R. Cassar-6, G. Da Silva Ribeiro-7.5 (83 O.L. Agboebina), A. Decesare-6, P. Doffo-6.5, T. Lopes De Souza-6, A. Rocha Da Silva-7, T. Scerri-5.5 (30 D. Falzon-6), Evaldo-6.5.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Bellucci, Pisani, Buhagiar, Caruana, Gilmar, Decesare, Rocha Da Silva, Evaldo.

BOV Player of the match: Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro (Naxxar Lions).