Birkirkara 1
Kumbrevicius 23;
Qormi 4
Mifsud 12, 17, 70; Souza 82 pen;
Michael Mifsud showed why Qormi were happy to make him the club’s most expensive buy on Friday as he got his Yellow-Blacks’ career off to a dream start yesterday with a hat-trick and a 4-1 win over champions Birkirkara.
Mifsud concluded an acrimonious week in the aftermath of his failed negotiations with Floriana, in style as he helped Qormi earn three precious points in their quest for a Championship Pool berth.
Qormi were transformed into an attacking force to reckon with now that Mifsud is playing for them as their confidence was visibly lifted, giving the impression that this was a game they might not have won a week ago.
With defender Joseph Zerafa suspended, Karl Pulo was reverted to the unusual left-back position as Paul Zammit was unable to field his latest signing, striker Ibrahim Babatunde, as the Nigerian striker’s registration could not be completed in time.
Coach Stephen Azzopardi instructed Mifsud to play on the right of a three-pronged attack with Abubaker Bello-Osagie flanking Josue Souza Santos.
Donning the No.9 shirt, Mifsud eased himself into the action from the go before making a decisive contribution with two goals inside the first 17 minutes.
The Stripes have only themselves to blame for Mifsud’s opening goal. On the right flank, Bello Osagie had all the time in the world to weigh up his options before executing a low pass and that ‘man of the moment’ Mifsud was on hand to tuck home.
Qormi’s confidence was visibly lifted and Birkirkara went two down five minutes later after an extravagant passing move.
Bello-Osagie and Mifsud, once again, split the Stripes’ defence and from the Nigerian’s final invitation, the Malta striker dribbled the goalkeeper in front of goal and placed the ball inside the net with aplomb as the Qormi fans celebrated the arrival of a new hero.
Just as Stephen Azzopardi’s men were starting to think of a rare luxury of building on a two-goal cushion against the champions, Birkirkara struck back.
Emiliano Lattes had two attempts blocked by the Qormi defence before his final shot was unwittingly deflected into the path of Rodolfo ‘Alemao’ Kumbrevicius at the far post, to reduce the deficit.
But Mifsud continued to show his huge value by being at the centre of almost every attacking foray Qormi created and after 42 minutes he saw his firm drive cleared off the line by Pulo with Fraser beaten.
The qualities associated with Mifsud are skill and pace and he used both just before the interval to race on a ball across him and going past a defender before having his shot saved.
Birkirkara’s lack of threat prompted Zammit to remove Terence Vella and send on Michael Galea and the Stripes showed a greater sense of urgency.
They were swiftly on the attack and had a claim for penalty waved away by the referee as Shawn Bajada tumbled under a challenge by Jonathan Bondin.
Matthew Farrugia was finally tested in the 57th minute when substitute Galea had a pile-driver fended wide by the goalkeeper.
A few moments later, Galea was allowed to turn in the box but his shot was off target.
Zammit’s side may have been in control in those opening minutes of the second half but when an unmarked Mifsud dragged wide after 69 minutes, the Stripes’ boss had reason for concern as Qormi showed signs of launching a comeback.
And those fears soon turned into reality when substitute Matthew Bartolo charged forward from the centre circle and laid the ball off to Mifsud who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Birkirkara’s afternoon quickly turned into a nightmare in the 82nd minute when Angus Buhagiar touched the ball with the hand inside the box as Souza Santos had chipped the ball over the defender and the Qormi man scored from the ensuing penalty.
Birkirkara laid siege on Farrugia’s goal for the final minutes of the match but for all their pressure, Farrugia’s stoppage-time save from Galea was one of the few times he was truly threatened and Qormi held on for a second consecutive win that bolsters their Championship Pool aspirations.
Birkirkara: M. Fraser-4.5, E. Lattes-6.5, N. Vukanac-5, A. Agius-4.5, S. Bajada-5, R. Muscat-5, A. Buhagiar-4.5, R. Kumbrevicius-6 (76 A. Decesare), T. Vella-5 (46 M. Galea-5.5), P. Fenech-5, K. Pulo-6.5 (85 R. Scicluna).
Qormi: M. Farrugia-7, J. Vandelannoite-6.5, S. Giglio-6, C. Karamanolis-6, K. Fenech-6.5, M. Mifsud-8, J. Farrugia-7, A. Bello-Osagie-6.5 (61 M. Bartolo-5), G. Mallia-5.5 (74 K. HoJung), J. Bondin-6, J. Souza Santos-6 (86 C. Frendo).
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Yellow cards: Vella, Karamanolis, Bajada.
BOV player of the match: Michael Mifsud (Qormi).