Roderick Briffa (right) launching an attack for Valletta against Qormi. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Qormi 1
Effiong 64 pen;
Valletta 3
Briffa 9, 45; Borg 23;

Valletta survived the first-half dismissal of Steve Borg and a second half fightback from relegation-threatened Qormi to get back to winning ways after the previous upset to Zebbug Rangers.

The champions had looked on their way to comfortable victory when goals from Roderick Briffa and Borg put the Citizens in command half-way through the opening period.

The match could have taken another twist on 37 minutes when Borg was dismissed after he upended the goalbound Alfred Effiong inside the box to leave the Citizens with ten men for the rest of the match. However, Marcelinho failed to beat the City keeper from the spot.

Borg’s dismissal did not seem to have left any effect on Valletta as they added a third goal on the stroke of half-time.

Qormi seized the initiative and enjoyed long spells of possession after the break but they only had an Effiong penalty goal to show as the Citizens remain in the hunt for the runners-up spot.

Valletta coach Ivan Zammit was boosted by the return from suspension of midfielder Briffa who was drafted straight into the starting formation but defender Luke Dimech was ruled out by injury while Llywelyn Cremona was also handed a starting role as English forward Lateef Ellford-Aliyu failed to recover from injury.

Qormi coach Mark Miller had his options added by the news that Nigerian-born forward Effiong was granted Maltese citizenship last week. Hence, the Qormi mentor could field another overseas player in his starting formation.

In fact, the Yellow-Blacks included US attacking midfielder Gustavo Villalobos from the start at the expense of Joseph Chetcuti who had to settle for a place on the bench.

Villalobos almost left an instant impact as after only three minutes he had a golden opportunity to put his team ahead when he was picked at the far post by Marcelinho but the American headed just over from in front of keeper Pietro Marino.

That proved to be a crucial miss for the Yellow-Blacks who found themselves behind after nine minutes of play.

Briffa made headway into the area and unleashed a powerful angled shot that beat Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia hands down.

Valletta made it 2-0 on 23 minutes when from a corner Shaun Bajada found Borg at the near post and the City defender headed past Farrugia.

Qormi were lost but they were handed a way back into the match eight minutes from half-time when Villalobos released Effiong with a fine throughball but he was brought down in the box by Borg.

Referee Clayton Pisani pointed to the spot and dismissed Borg. However, Marcelinho saw his spot-kick stopped by the diving Marino.

Despite having a player less, Valletta scored a third goal on the stroke of half-time when Ryan Fenech’s delivery was not cleared by Alejandro Mendoza and Briffa was on hand to scramble the ball into the net.

On the restart, Miller threw caution to the wind in his bid to revive Qormi’s hopes as he withdrew defenders Berntsson and Pisani and roped in forwards Alex Nilsson and Ryan Micallef.

Valletta conceded the initiative to Qormi who enjoyed long spells of possession but found it difficult to break down the solid City defence.

On 58 minutes, Effiong exchanged passes with Nilsson but his effort was stopped by the alert Marino.

Qormi were awarded a second penalty six minutes later when Briffa tripped Effiong inside the Valletta penalty area.

This time it was Effiong who took the spot-kick and he coolly despatched his effort past Marino.

Qormi were expected to lift their game at this juncture but they flattered to deceive as the Citizens held on comfortably.

Two minutes from time Valletta almost added a fourth when in a swift break, Hamza Barry released Bajada who fired badly with only the Qormi keeper to beat.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, A. Mendoza-5, Mar-celinho-6.5, A. Effiong-6, C. Gauci-6, G. Villalobos-6, Z. Levnaic-5, D. Pisani-5 (46 R. Micallef-5), J. Bondin-5 (84 J. Chetcuti), B. Berntsson-4 (46 A. Nilsson-5), L. Grech-5.

Valletta
P. Marino-7, J. Caruana-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6.5, S. Borg, R. Camilleri-6.5, R. Fenech-6, H. Barry-7.5 (89 D. Leeflang), R. Briffa-7.5, S. Bajada-6.5 (90 H. Alkamali), L. Cremona-6, A. Nafti-6 (67 I. Hilary-6).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Berntsson, Nilsson, Marino, Gauci.

Red card: Borg (V) 37.

Missed penalty: Marcelinho (Q) 38.

BOV player of the match: Roderick Briffa (Valletta).

Attendance: 1,038.