Qormi needed a late goal by Noah Ojuola to rescue a point against Naxxar Lions in a 1-1 draw.

Naxxar created the first chance after ten 10 minutes when Juergen Debono’s fierce drive from outside the area flashed just wide.

On the half hour the Lions should have taken the lead when Demba Toure stormed into the area and squared the ball to Daren Falzon who was denied by the diving Jean Mathias Vella.

Qormi finally threatened on 34 minutes when Kurt Magro’s dipping cross found Clifford Gauci who hit a firm volley that forced a fine block by Alberto Gallinetta.

Three minutes from the break, Djamel Leeflang nodded the ball into the path of Terence Vella who fired over.

Naxxar were unlucky four minutes into the second half when Ennio Hamutenya connected to Falzon’s corner kick but his header hit the bar.

Four minutes later, Falzon was again the provider when he teed up Mark Fenech but his shot just missed the upright.

At the other end Ryan Micallef connected to Clifford Gauci’s cross but his header finished just wide.

Qormi’s best chance came on 63 minutes when from a central free-kick, Terence Vella’s curling drive was somehow kept out by Gallinetta and from the rebound Ryan Micallef’s header was again blocked by the Naxxar no.1.

Naxxar took the lead on 71 minutes. Debono picked Toure whose dipping header was turned home by Daren Falzon.

Qormi refused to throw in the towel and they managed to draw level four minutes from time when the Naxxar defence failed to clear Gauci’s delivery and in came Noah Ojuola who fired home.

Here Naxxar threw more men forward and a minute from time Jean Mathias Vella somehow kept out Falzon’s shot.

Qormi finished the match with ten men when Micallef was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

But despite being a man down they could have won it late on when in a quick break Ojuola sped into the area but his shot was blocked by Gallinetta.

Naxxar forward Daren Falzon was voted as the BOV Player of the match.