Qormi are the sole leaders of the 2009/2010 Premier League. Jesmond Zerafa's high-fliers extended their brilliant start to the season with a 2-0 win over rivals Ħamrun Spartans to move clear at the top after champions Hibs suffered an unexpected 3-2 defeat to Floriana.
On Tuesday, Valletta were widely expected to join Qormi on the 16-point mark but the Citizens threw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Tarxien Rainbows.
Goals from Massimo Grima and Brazilian striker Camilo gave Qormi a 2-0 win over Ħamrun at a packed Tedesco Stadium on Sunday.
Hibs had the chance to go clear at the summit, for 24 hours at least, but they came unstuck against the improving Floriana on Saturday.
Floriana made the most of a missed penalty by Hibs' striker Etienne Barbara as they scored two goals in the space of eight minutes, courtesy of Clifton Ciantar and Ryan Darmanin, to open a 2-0 lead.
Latvian striker Olegs Malasenoks revived Hibs' hopes seven minutes from half-time but barely a minute later, the Greens restored their two-goal lead after Edward Herrera committed an own goal.
The Greens appeared to suffer a setback when defender Julian Briffa was sent off for two yellow cards on 52 minutes but Hibs failed to capitalise. Malasenoks was on target again in the dying moments but Hibs ran out of time.
A victory for Valletta seemed a formality when Jamie Pace and Doding Priso gave them a 2-0 half-time lead but the Citizens paid the price for relaxing too soon.
Tarxien duly took advantage as Brazilian striker Anderson Ribeiro hit two quickfire goals early in the second half to give his team a timely boost before their derby against Hibs on Saturday.
On Monday, Birkirkara produced a three-goal surge in three first-half minutes to dispose of Sliema Wanderers. Trevor Cilia, Michael Galea and Sylvano Comvalius were Birkirkara's scorers.
Msida St Joseph gained their first win of the season after coming from behind to beat fellow relegation strugglers Dingli Swallows.
Joseph Okonwko gave Dingli an early lead but second-half goals from Adam Spiteri and Tyrone Farrugia turned the result in favour of the Saints.
Scorers
Birkirkara: Galea 4; Comvalius 3; Mallia 2, Cilia 2; Fenech, Pulo. Red card: Paris (vs Hibs).
Dingli Swallows: Okonkwo 5 (1 pen). Own goal - Tabone (vs Birkirkara). Red card: Fiteni (vs Ħamrun).
Floriana: Wasiu 2; Anonam, Simmonds, Caruana, Ciantar, Darmanin. Own goal - Herrera (vs Hibs). Red card - J. Briffa (vs Hibs).
Ħamrun Spartans: Spiteri 3; Pereira 2; Fenech, Mawete. Red cards - Micallef (vs Birkirkara), Pereira (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: Malasenoks 4; Galabov 2, Herrera 2; J. Caruana, Cauchi, Barbara. Own goals - Conceicao (vs Dingli), Fenech (vs Ħamrun). Red card: Grech (vs Msida SJ).
Msida SJ: Aganun, Spiteri, T. Farrugia.
Qormi: Camilo 9; Chetcuti, Effiong, Grima.
Sliema: Mifsud Triganza 3; Bartolo 2; Dronca (pen), Failla, Isaac, Mintoff. Own goal - T. Farrugia (vs Msida).
Tarxien Rainbows: Ribeiro 5; Denni 3; Calabretta 2; Shead, Everton. Red card: Ribeiro (vs Dingli).
Valletta: Scerri 5; Priso 3 (1 pen); Pace 2; Cruyff, Den Ouden, Zammit, Sammut.
Next fixtures
Tomorrow: Tedesco Stadium - 7.30 p.m. Dingli vs Qormi.
Saturday: National Stadium - 2 p.m. Tarxien vs Hibs; 4 p.m. Ħamrun Spartans vs Valletta.
Sunday: Hibs Ground - 2 p.m. Floriana vs Sliema; 4 p.m. Birkirkara vs Msida.