Vittoriosa scored late goals to beat Qormi. Photo: Matthew MirabelliVittoriosa scored late goals to beat Qormi. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Vittoriosa Stars 2
Pereira 87; Guerrero 90;
Qormi 0

Vittoriosa are alive and kicking.

Having looked down and out for most of the first round in the Relegation Pool, Vittoriosa are on the verge of pulling off what would be a stunning Houdini act as their late revival produced a third consecutive win yesterday.

Not for the first time this season, the Stars were indebted to their formidable South American forwards as Marcelo Pereira and Oscar Guerrero delivered late goals to propel the team past a shambolic Qormi, in so doing setting up a last-day decider against Naxxar Lions.

Despite their defeat, Qormi are safe as they are guaranteed to finish above one of the two remaining strugglers in the relegation zone.

Filip Aguiar and Leonardo Torri were duly restored to Vittoriosa’s initial XI after serving a ban as defender Giorgio Gianola and midfielder Gabriel were the two notable absentees for Qormi.

The early exchanges were short of creative football but Vittoriosa spurned a glorious chance to seize the lead on 15 minutes as Guerrero’s cross from the right was deflected into the path of Samir Arab but he sent a tame shot straight into the hands of Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper.

The game remained generally scrappy with neither side seemingly able to impose their game.

On 27 minutes, Sidibe Ousmane, Vittoriosa’s stocky defender, unleashed a powerful cross-shot from the right but the ball flew wide of the far post.

The more creative stuff flowed from the feet of Guerrero who, on 33 minutes, veered infield from the right before supplying a cross to Pereira at the far post. The Brazilian wrong-footed his marker but his volley sailed over the bar.

Qormi were bereft of their attacking flair for much of the opening 35 minutes as their forward personnel were kept at bay by Vittoriosa.

Seven minutes from half-time, Triston Caruana’s set-piece cross landed in the box but Alfred Effiong arrived a fraction too late.

Karel Zeman, the Qormi coach, will have demanded an improvement from his players in the second period and Qormi’s early endeavours suggested that the appeal had been heeded.

After Caruana headed wide from a free-kick, Leighton Grech steered clear of the back-tracking Vittoriosa defenders before hitting a low shot that rolled past the far post.

Ten minutes into the second half, another Quintieri cross was met by Effiong whose stooping header flashed inside the side-netting.

As the tide looked to be turning against them, Vittoriosa almost broke the deadlock but Guerrero’s free-kick rattled the crossbar.

Qormi might have scored themselves in their next foray as Duncan Pisani swept into the box and cut the ball back to Jonathan Bondin, who was completely unguarded, but he mishit his shot.

Zeman hauled off Grech and roped in striker Lucas Cantoro. For Vittoriosa, Siraj Arab came on for Carl Sammut.

The game again descended into a soporific affair. With 12 minutes left, Guerrero’s corner spread panic in the Qormi defence but danger was averted in the last minute.

As the game drifted into its closing stages, Vittoriosa struck.

Qormi were again found wanting when defending a corner as substitute Francisco Mella Arriagada’s delivery from the left sparked a goalmouth melee. Clive Brincat’s initial attempt was blocked but the ball broke to Pereira who guided his effort through a posse of players and into the net.

In stoppage time, Guerrero wrapped up another influential display with a well-taken goal.

The skilful Colombian wriggled his way through the dosing Qormi defenders before steering the ball past Farrugia.

Vittoriosa Stars
M. Muscat-6, Samir Arab-5.5 (83 M. Buttigieg), L. Torri-5 (77 F. Mella Arriagada), C. Sammut-5 (70 Siraj Arab-5), S. Ousmane-6.5, F.J. Aguiar-6, M. Pereira-6.5, O. Guerrero-7, C. Brincat-6.5, L. Vella Critien-6, C. Spiteri-6.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, J. Bondin-4, A. Effiong-4, D. Pisani-5, E. Vella-6.5 (85 C. Terribile), L. Grech-5.5 (68 L. Cantoro-4), R. Sammut-4, T. Caruana-5.5, O. Bugeja-4, S. Quintieri-5, Jorginho-5.

Referee: V. Spasjonnikovs (Latvia FA).

Yellow cards: Quintieri; Torri.

BOV player of the match: Oscar Guerrero (Vittoriosa Stars).

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