Federico Falcone (right) scores Valletta’s opener against Qormi with an overhead kick. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Valletta 2
Falcone 11; Nafti 82;
Qormi 1
Vella 24;

New Qormi coach Johann Scicluna coaxed a strong performance out of his team but their efforts again fell short as it was Valletta who trudged off the poorly-lit pitch of the Tedesco Stadium with the three points in the bag.

With 14 points separating Valletta and Qormi in the standings, this meeting had the look of a mismatch but that was far removed from the truth as the game unfolded into a gripping affair.

It had all the ingredients of an exciting encounter as Federico Falcone struck a stunning goal to put Valletta ahead only for the underdogs to reply immediately through Terence Vella. The game was also laced with drama as Abdelkarim Nafti snatched a late winner for the Citizens who found Qormi goalkeeper Jean Mathias Vella in tremendous form.

Although, by and large, Valletta produced more scoring opportunities than Qormi, Nafti’s late goal, from a disputed free-kick, came like a hammer blow for Scicluna’s team after they had squandered two glorious chances to go 2-1 up.

No wonder the Qormi players were applauded off the pitch as Valletta were relieved to secure a win that lifted them above Balzan at the top albeit with a game in hand.

With Roderick Briffa out with a hamstring problem, Valletta coach Paul Zammit only had four Maltese players in his starting XI as captain Jonathan Caruana is still sidelined.

Albert Bruce deputised for Briffa in midfield while Njongo Priso replaced Jhonnattann in attack as the striker may need surgery to cure a wrist injury. Priso started alongside Falcone and Nafti in attack as Zammit stuck with 4-3-3.

Scicluna’s first adjustment on taking charge of the Qormi team was to switch to a four-man defence as he opted for 4-1-3-2 with Terence Vella playing off Alex Nilsson in attack.

After a somewhat quiet start, Falcone had the crowd on its feet. Turning adroitly to get on the end of Romeu Romao’s floating cross, the Argentine conjured up a perfect acrobatic volley that left Vella rooted to his spot.

The Valletta fans roared their approval as Falcone celebrated his excellent strike, an early candidate for goal of the season.

Falcone threatened to double Valletta’s lead but his point-blank header drew a fine one-handed save from Vella, yesterday replacing his younger brother Andreas.

Perhaps encouraged by Falcone’s goal, Bruce also went close with another overhead kick that sailed over the bar.

The Whites pressed for more but Qormi equalised midway into the first half. Their swift transition from defence to attack caught the Valletta back-line off guard as Carlo Monti charged clear on the left, held off Romao and laid the ball back to Vella whose grounder had the better of Henry Bonello.

Bruce was wide with a grounder from outside the penalty area as Valletta endeavoured to regain the upperhand.

On 32 minutes, Vella kept Qormi afloat when smothering away Cremona’s shot. The Qormi goalkeeper was at it again before half-time as he warded off Falcone’s flick.

In next to no time, Vella had to make another fine save as he dived to keep out Bruce’s grounder.

Five minutes into the second half, Priso’s cross was repelled by Vella. Cremona blasted over from the rebound.

With the well-drilled Qormi quick to get men forward whenever they broke on the counter, Valletta were not having it their own way.

Romao’s thunderbolt, from a wide position, was high and Monti did the same for Qormi.

Nafti hit the side-netting after receiving from Romao and, on another occasion, the Tunisian’s curler was again parried away by Vella.

As in the first half, Qormi should have punished Valletta as Monti set off on a surging run down the left before picking out Nilsson who was unguarded but his flick, from routine distance, was somehow blocked by Bonello.

It was then Valletta’s turn to create a good chance after charging clear on the counter through Nafti who left a clutch of players in his wake before freeing Priso who sidestepped his marker but his shot was again beaten away by Vella.

Chances came thick and fast as Qormi spurned an even better occasion to go ahead when Noah Ojuola rifled over from underneath the crossbar after reaching another Monti assist.

Qormi paid dearly for that miss as Nafti finally broke Vella’s resistance as his thumping free-kick cannoned off the underside of the bar and landed behind the goal-line despite the keeper’s attempt to keep the ball out.

Valletta
H. Bonello-6, I. Azzopardi-6, R. Camilleri-5.5, J. Cruz Gill-6, A. Bruce-6, N. Priso-5.5 (83 J. Suda), F. Falcone-7, L. Cremona-6.5 (70 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5.5), C. Pani-7, A. Nafti-6.5 (86 J. Borg), R. Romao-6.5.

Qormi
J.M. Vella-8, A. Cassar-6, O. Sidibe-6, N. Ojuola-5, B. Berntsson-7, S. Agius-5.5 (41 E. Vella-6), C. Gauci-7, K. Magro-6.5 (80 S. Oproiescu), C. Monti-7.5, T. Vella-6.5 (68 R. Micallef), A. Nilsson-4.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Cremona; Berntsson; Agius; Magro; Cruz Gill.

BOV player of the match: Jean Mathias Vella (Qormi).

Attendance: 871.