Qormi 1
Gauci 50;
Pembroke 2
Villalobos 13, 71;
Pembroke Athleta had a dream start to their first-ever Premier League campaign yesterday as they beat a Qormi team in disarray.
At times, it seemed that Jesmond Zerafa’s Yellows were the debutants in the top flight as Pembroke gave little indication that theirs was a totally revamped squad.
Qormi were frustrated for large periods of the game as Gustavo Villalobos, their former striker, was twice on the mark while veteran Mario Muscat made a surprise return as he started in goal for Pembroke.
Qormi are experiencing troubled times.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that Alfred Effiong had left Qormi and others could follow suit before the transfer window deadline at the end of the month.
National team striker Effiong joined Balzan with reports saying he had signed a three-year deal with Oliver Spiteri’s team.
Qormi betrayed signs of uneasiness at the back and Pembroke exposed their vulnerability, particularly on the flanks.
On 13 minutes, Giacomo Ferri was granted time and space to slip a cross to Villalobos who rose unchallenged and head home.
Qormi were struggling to get the ball to their forward line but in an isolated foray inside Pembroke’s half, Carlo Monti went close but his shot whistled past the post.
Zerafa’s team first-half display did not merit a goal but they found the net soon after the break.
Ryan Micallef’s run unnerved Pembroke as Alex Cini slid in to bring down the striker on the left edge of the box. Monti’s free-kick was blocked but Clifford Gauci’s shot from the rebound gave Muscat no chance.
Qormi were seeing more of the ball at this juncture but still struggled to create any decent scoring opportunities.
At the other end, Austin Martz dummied two defenders before unleashing a fierce shot which goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia tipped over the bar.
Pembroke shot back into the lead on 71 minutes after some hesitant Farrugia hand-ling from Martz’s free-kick. Villalobos drilled his shot into the net.
A few moments later, Monti gave the illusion of goal when his free-kick flashed against the Pembroke side-netting.
Six minutes from time, Pembroke substitute Peter Paul Sammut almost found the net with virtually his first touch but he missed the target by a whisker.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, A. Cassar-5, B. Berntsson-6, N. Ojuola-5, J. Bondin-5.5, S. Agius-5, C. Gauci-6.5, C. Monti-6, J. Chetcuti-4.5 (68 G. Azzopardi-5), R. Micallef-5, L. Grech-4.5 (79 P. Viggiani).
Pembroke Athleta
M. Muscat-6, Z. Levnaic-7, A. Cini-6, O. Bugeja-6, L. Cutajar-6, P. Barbetti-5 (84 P. Sammut), G. Villalobos-7, K. O’Brien-6, G. Bardsley-6, A. Martz-7.5, G. Ferri-5.5 (76 S. Arab).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Bardsley, Levnaic, Barbetti.
BOV player of the match: Gustavo Villalobos (Pembroke Athleta).