QORMI 1; SLIEMA WANDERERS 0
Qormi achieved the biggest victory of the season yesterday when an early goal by their talisman defender Noah Ojoula handed them a 1-0 success over Sliema.
With the three teams in the red zone separated by just three points, the fight to avoid the drop will be decided on the final day of the campaign.
It was a shock result. An early candidate for relegation, Qormi fought to live another day as Johann Scicluna’s side now need to beat St. Andrews and hoped that Sliema does not repeat his opaque display against Naxxar Lions. In case, Naxxar lose, they would set up a decider with Qormi.
Qormi survived an early scare when they were caught wide at the back as Denni ran to meet short clearance by the defence. The Brazilian by passed the Qormi goalkeeper Jean Mathias Vella but was then denied by the woodwork.
Sliema kept up the offensive but Qormi shocked their much-quoted opponents when taking the lead on the quarter of the hour mark. Go Nagaoka swung over a corner which Ousmane Sidibe headed into the path of Noah Ojoula to stab home.
Past the half hour mark, Johann Bezzina’s calibrated shot flashed over the bar as Sliema tried to muster a reaction after finding themselves trailing to a goal.
Amid Sliema’s difficulties to break down Qormi’s resistance, Denni came closest to level the scoring but his pile-driver cannoned off the crossbar just before half-time.
In the second half, the Wanderers were still playing second fiddle to a more determined Qormi side. Sliema’s lack of cohesive play in midfield was further exposed after 50 minutes, when Ojuola carried the ball forward but floored just before entering the box by Stefano Bianciardi. From the ensuing kick, Nagaoka shot wide.
Clifford Gauci’s forceful running in the middle created another opening for Qormi. He dribbled two opponents and with Iven Zammit screaming for the ball he opted to go on his own but was blocked.
Sliema now started taking the game to their opponents and Alex Muscat’s full-blooded shot was blocked by the flying Sibide after 77 minutes.
At death, Denni must have rued his luck after seeing his goalbound effort cleared off the line.