Qormi 1
Effiong 23;
Balzan 2
Spiteri 45; Sciberras 65;
With Balzan and Qormi lurking in the bottom part of the standings, this clash assumed added significance as both were desperate for a win to keep the pace with the other Championship Pool hopefuls.
After seeing Balzan hold Floriana to a goalless draw in his first match in charge, coach Jesmond Zerafa was looking to plot the downfall of his former club as he chased his first win since taking over from Riccardo Tumiatti just over two weeks ago.
A familiar figure looked to have complicated the Balzan coach’s task as Alfred Effiong, who has played for Zerafa at Qormi and Valletta, conjured up a goal out of nothing midway into the first half.
Coming against the run of play, Effiong’s opener jolted Balzan but they battled on.
Their efforts produced a merited equaliser on the stroke of half-time through Mark Spiteri, one of the best players yesterday.
Balzan remained the better side and, 20 minutes into the second half, Luke Sciberras came back to haunt Qormi, his former team, as he gave Balzan the three points with a majestic first-time volley.
Balzan’s starting XI showed one change with Spiteri being preferred to Erjon Beu.
Configured in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Balzan had Jose Luis Armario Negrin filling the lone striker’s role and Dylan Grima deployed in an advanced midfield position.
With Jorginho sidelined with injury, Qormi coach Tommaso Volpi had to make one change from the team that figured in a 1-1 draw with Birkirkara. Gianluca Nucera stepped into the boots of the Brazilian forward.
Effiong was Qormi’s point of reference in attack with Riccardo Innocenti offering support from behind and Leighton Grech on the right wing.
Inside the opening three minutes, Qormi defender Owen Bugeja felled Grima just outside the box after the Balzan midfielder threatened to power his way into the box. Rodrigo Pereira curled his shot past the Qormi wall but the ball sailed over the bar.
After an interlude of scrappy football, Balzan spurned a glorious chance on 12 minutes. It was Justin Grioli who laid the groundwork as he advanced on the wing before angling a teasing cross that fell into the path of Negrin. The Spaniard was unguarded at the far post but his final effort was too central to trouble keeper Matthew Farrugia.
Minutes later, Negrin should have done better than flick the ball straight into Farrugia after Fabio Vignaroli picked out the striker with a chipped pass.
Balzan were the more cohesive team in the early stages. Qormi hardly had a glimpse of Daniel Martinez’s goal in the opening 20 minutes but in Effiong they possess a striker who can punish opponents on the counter.
He had been kept under control by the Balzan defenders in the opening stages but the Nigerian burst into life midway into the first half.
Fastening on to a long ball, Effiong peeled away from Pereira before summoning a powerful drive that ripped past Martinez.
Stunned by Effiong’s goal, Balzan toiled to recapture their early brio while Qormi failed to up their game.
What followed was another period of drab football.
However, on the brink of half-time, Balzan levelled. Grioli was the provider with another perfect cross from the right and Spiteri rose highest to glance the ball into the net.
At half-time, Zerafa brought on Lydon Micallef for Gianluca Calabretta.
Five minutes into the second half, Spiteri set off on a solo run from the left but his grounder was parried away by Farrugia. The loose ball dropped to Micallef whose cross came off Leonardo Gabrieli’s arm, triggering shouts of ‘penalty’ but the referee saw nothing wrong.
It was all Balzan now. They should have scored when Spiteri’s cross from inside the box fell to Micallef but the latter stabbed wide with the goal at his mercy. Zerafa was forced to make another substitution as Aaron Agius came on for the injured Pereira.
At the other end, Christian Terribile, who had just come on for Gabrieli, turned well outside the box but his rising drive was off target.
Balzan deservedly surged ahead on 65 minutes. And it was a fine goal as Spiteri’s dipping corner from the right soared above a host of players and Sciberras ghosted his way into the area before arrowing a first-time volley into the net.
With 16 minutes remaining, Qormi protested for a penalty when Effiong, running into the box to meet a cross, nipped behind Andrew Scicluna. The Nigerian’s header was pushed away by Martinez who barged into Effiong but Chris Lautier turned away Qormi’s penalty appeals.
A few minutes later, Martinez made way for Jacob Cipriott.
As the game drifted into its final stages, Qormi injected some much-needed urgency into their game with Innocenti flanking Effiong in attack.
Their most dangerous outlet remained Effiong who, four minutes from time, darted into the box but his strike came off the side-rigging.
Farrugia then denied Negrin as Balzan held out to snap a five-match winless run.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, A. Effiong-7, G. Bellucci-5, L. Grech-5, R. Bajada-5, G. Nucera-5 (61 D. Pirotta-5.5), O. Bugeja-5, D. Pisani-5, J. Bondin-4, R. Innocenti-4, L. Gabrieli-5 (53 C. Terribile-6.5).
Balzan
D. Martinez-6 (80 J. Cipriott), J. Grioli-7, S. Bezzina-6, R. Pereira-6 (56 A. Agius-6), A. Scicluna-6.5, F. Vignaroli-6.5, D. Grima-6, L. Sciberras-6.5, M. Spiteri-7.5, G. Calabretta-5.5 (46 L. Micallef-6.5), J.L. Armario Negrin-5.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Yellow cards: Bugeja; Sciberras; Spiteri; Effiong.
BOV player of the match: Mark Spiteri (Balzan).