Qormi 4
Avila Perez 7; Chetcuti 11; Thackray 70 pen; Effiong 90 pen;
Rabat Ajax 0
Two quick goals in the space of 11 first half minutes set the course of this game as Qormi took all three points from this clash between two teams striving to move out of the drop zone.
The 4-0 scoreline was a tad harsh on Rabat Ajax but the concession of a soft goal plus two penalties, the first of which was highly-debatable, scuppered their hopes of pulling away from the relegation zone.
Rabat looked like obliging opponents at first for a Qormi side trying to shake last Tuesday’s roller-coaster defeat against Floriana out of their system. The first two goals arrived inside the first 11 minutes, first from Moises Avila Perez and
then Joseph Chetcuti but Rabat’s defending was riddled with errors and looked short of confidence.
After suffering this nightmare opening phase, the Magpies seized the initiative.
The transformation was remarkable bearing in mind the way they began the match but two late penalties lifted Qormi’s spirits.
The Yellow-Blacks welcomed back Kris Thackray but Luke Sciberras was suspended as Jesmond Zerafa preferred Alessio Cassar to Duncan Pisani.
On his part, Rabat’s Yan Cauchi deputised for the suspended Dylan Falzon.
Zerafa’s men were ahead after just seven minutes with a goal that owed almost as much to its creator, Alfred Effiong, as goalscorer Avila Perez.
The Nigerian embarked a mazy run that took him past two defenders, slipped a through-ball to the Spaniard who strode into the box before beating Sean Mintoff with a low shot.
It was exactly what Silvio Vella did not want and things got worse for Rabat four minutes later as Qormi doubled their lead.
Edison Bilboa Zarate’s long-range pass evaded all bodies inside the Magpies area leaving the Rabat goalkeeper in two minds before Joseph Chetcuti drifted the ball at the far post.
As the half progressed, Rabat settled and enjoyed more possession but failed to make the most of promising positions with wayward finishing.
On 15 minutes, Steve Sultana nudged the ball away from Josè Luis Armario Negrin, who had been sent clear by Patrick Borg.
On 23 minutes, David Azzopardi was dangerous with a thunderous shot that produced a fine save from Sultana.
Sultana’s show continued on 39 minutes as he charged off his line to fist away from the advancing Azzopardi following Carrillo’s cross-cum-shot.
Rabat were dealt an unexpected blow at the start of the second half when Clive Brincat was unable to continue after injuring himself in a freak accident coming out of the dressing room.
This incident prompted Vella to bring on Malcolm Licari as he tweaked his formation with the Spanish trio of Fuster, Pendas and Negrin leading Rabat’s three-pronged attack.
Vella’s tactics were immaculate as this preceded a sustained period of pressure on the Qormi goal, completely at odds with the way Zerafa’s side outplayed Rabat at the beginning of the match.
Just after the break, a fine interception by Sultana prevented Negrin from turning Licari’s cross over the line.
Azzopardi, pushing up the flank as a raw winger, had the measure of Cassar. On 54 minutes, a run down the flank by Azzopardi allowed Fuster to play in Negrin who clipped the ball over the advancing the keeper but Sultana produced a save of the highest class to keep out the Spaniard’s effort.
In the 69th minute, Negrin delivered a ball for Licari who was waiting at the edge of the box to direct a powerful effort against the woodwork with Sultana stranded.
And it took a penalty to lift Qormi’s spirits. On the restart of play, Thackray strode forward in the box but Joseph Caruana forced him off balance as the Qormi defender accentuated his fall to draw the attention of the referee who duly pointed to the spot.
The Englishman picked himself up to strike the resulting penalty low and hard into the corner.
A second penalty for Qormi was given in time added on when Effiong was floored in the area by Mintoff.
The Nigerian stepped up to hit a shot past the goalkeeper.
Qormi
S. Sultana-7, K. Thackray-6, R. Sammut-5, A. Effiong-6.5, J. Chetcuti-6 (70 M. Bartolo-4), M. Avila Perez-6, M. Gauci-5, E. Bilboa Zarate-6 ( 83 T. Caruana), J. Bondin-5, A. Cassar-4.5, C. Cassar-5 (70 L. Grech-4).
Rabat Ajax
S. Mintoff-4, I. Carapic-5, J. Caruana-4, J. L. Armario Negrin-5.5, M. Fuster-6, P. Borg-5 (43 J. Felice-5), C. Brincat-4 (46 M. Licari-5), D. Carrillo Pendas-6, Y. Cauchi-5, D. Azzopardi-7 (85 S. Gauci-), C. Gauci-5.5.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow cards: M. Gauci; Mintoff.
BOV Player of the match: Josè Luis Armario Negrin (Rabat Ajax).