Mqabba 0
Qormi 1
Jorginho 74
With the relegation issue sure to go down to the wire, Mqabba took the field for yesterday’s encounter with Qormi knowing that a defeat would seriously jeopardise their hopes of staying up.
Not so can be said of Qormi. They came into the match safe in the knowledge that nothing untoward would endanger their position after dispelling their relegation fears with a 6-0 mauling of rivals Ħamrun.
Qormi’s ‘safe’ situation might have led some to think that Stephen Azzopardi’s may take it easy against Mqabba but that was certainly not the case as their 1-0 win illustrates.
The Relegation Pool matches have generally failed to live up to their billing in terms of excitement but this one certainly did as the two teams showed plenty of commitment.
In a game of fluctuating fortunes, it was Qormi who had the last laugh as Jorginho’s second-half goal sunk the gritty Mqabba who finished the match with 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Kris Calleja.
The Reds’ survival hopes are now hanging by a thread as they remain second-from-bottom, three points below Mosta.
After eight minutes, Qormi captain Joseph Farrugia swung in a dangerous cross from a corner but the ball skimmed the crossbar.
Seven minutes later, Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia prevented Mqabba taking the lead when smothering away Claudio Calleja’s thunderbolt.
Not to be outshone, Kris Calleja, the Mqabba goalkeeper, pulled off an equally top-notch save to repel Jorginho’s curler.
After a somewhat slow start, the two teams began to attack more purposefully as the first half gathered pace.
Mamic just failed to connect with Thiago Mazzitelli’s cross and, at the other end, Calleja stopped another effort from Jorginho.
The central defensive pairing of Branislav Timotic and Ryan Sammut had their hands full as they looked to counter the threat posed by Jorginho and Bello-Osagie. On the other side of the pitch, Mamic and Mazzitelli were also putting in an industrious shift for Mqabba, chasing balls and putting pressure on the Qormi defenders.
The sight of Farrugia picking out Jorginho with a lofted pass caused apprehension among the Mqabba fans as the Brazilian darted past Sammut but his final effort was high and wide.
In first-half stoppage, Roderick Sammut rescued Qormi from a potentially menacing situation when intercepting the goalbound Mazzittelli after Grima’s cross was diverted into the Brazilian’s path.
Mqabba were penned back in the opening stages of the second half but they soon began to reverse the tide. Mazzitelli made a twisting run into the Qormi box but his effort came off Vincent Kouadio.
A minute past the hour, Bello-Osagie again embarked on a scorching run through the middle only to rifle wide with only Calleja to beat.
Mqabba sighed with relief but, moments later, the plucky Reds suffered a blow. A rare lapse in concentration by their defenders left the way clear for Bello-Osagie who retrieved the loose ball and headed for goal before being brought down by Kris Calleja.
Referee Marco Borg pointed to spot and reached for his red card to dismiss the Mqabba goalkeeper, prompting Mizzi to throw on reserve goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi for Claudio Calleja.
Bello-Osagie stepped up to take the penalty but fired over.
Relieved, Mqabba plucked up courage. They threatened to forge ahead as the energetic Fenech dashed into the box and delivered a cross-shot that eluded Farrugia but Sammut cleared before Mamic could apply the finishing touch.
Azzopardi was lucky to escape a red card when he clattered into the steaming Jorginho on the edge of the box but the Mqabba goalkeeper was only cautioned. From the ensuing free-kick, Jorginho drilled his shot past Mqabba’s human barrier and into the low corner to put Qormi ahead.
Rene Duca almost equalised for Mqabba but his angled drive from a wide position whistled past the far post.
Timotic joined Mamic and Mazzitelli in attack as Mqabba sought an equaliser.
Tempers frayed as Ryan Sammut flattened Jorginho with a late tackle. Mqabba president Mario Borg was ordered off the bench for protests, much to the frustration of the club fans, some of whom charged towards the fence before being pushed back by the police.
The Mqabba players were deservedly applauded off the pitch by the fans at the final whistle.
Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima-6, M. Potezica-7, J. Briffa-6 (76 R. Duca), B. Timotic-7.5, T. Mazzitelli-6, C. Calleja-6 (64 F. Azzopardi-4), M. Bonnici-6, D. Fenech-7, R. Sammut-5.5, B. Mamic-5.5.
Qormi: M. Farrugia-6.5, R. Sammut-7.5, M. Bartolo-5, J. Chetcuti-6, J. Farrugia-6, J. Bondin-6, Jorginho-7.5, K. Thackray-6.5, T. Caruana-6.5, A. Bello-Osagie-7.5 (90 L. Sciberras), V. Kouadio-7.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Missed penalty: Bello-Osagie (Q) 64.
Yellow cards Briffa; Grima; Azzopardi; Ryan Sammut; Bonnici;
Red card: K. Calleja (M) 62
BOV Player of the match: Jorginho (Qormi).
Attendance: 548.