QORMI 1

Gauci 50

PEMBROKE ATHLETA 2

Villalobos 13, 71

Premier League newcomers Pembroke Athleta had a dream start to their campaign as they beat a Qormi team in disarray.

Qormi were comfortably beaten as it was Jesmond Zerafa’s side which looked more like the Premier League debutants than the more assured Pembroke who were making their debut in the top flight.

In the 13th minute, Giacomo Ferri was granted time and space on the left flank to slip a pass to Villalobos whose run had escaped the attention of the ball-watching Qormi defenders as the American striker rose unchallenged to head the ball past Matthew Farrugia.

Qormi were struggling to get the ball to their forward line but in an isolated foray inside Pembroke’s half, Monti went close but his rising shot whistled past the post.

The Yellow’s first-half display did not merit a goal but they found the net soon after the break when Ryan Micallef surging run unnerved Pembroke as Alex Cini slid in to bring down the striker on the left edge of the box. Monti’s free-kick was blocked by the rearguard but Clifford Gauci’s swerving rebound gave Muscat no chance.

Qormi were seeing more of the ball at this juncture but still struggled to create any decent scoring opportunities. Instead, Austin Martz had the cheek to dummy two defenders before unleashing a fierce shot which Farrugia tipped over the bar.

In the 71st minute, Pembroke restored thanks to a hesitation by goalkeeper Farrugia who fumbled the ball from Martz’s free-kick and Villalobos drilled his shot into the net.