QORMI 2 FLORIANA 1

Qormi have made a bold step towards Premier League survival after beating Floriana 2-1.

Qormi started positively with Brazilian midfielder Gabriel causing all sorts of problems for the Floriana defence, running at them rutlessly with terrifying pace before showing great composure to curl in nonchalanty after 13 minutes.

That goal should have been the signal for Qormi to get on the front foot but the opposite happened with the Greens gaining more possession. Shy the half hour, Floriana were unlucky not to grab an equaliser when Gary Muir’s low, curling free-kick came off the base of the post.

Two minutes later, they were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser. Their goal stemmed from a glaring mistake by Duncan Pisani who failed to shield the ball off Christian Caruana as the nippy midfielder sped past the defender to stab the ball past Matthew Farrugia. The Qormi custodian picked up a knock as he tried to block Caruana and limped off past the half an hour mark.

At the start of the second half, chances remained few and far until Pisani bore down on the right channel but his weak shot caused no trouble to Daniel Hanford after 56 minutes.

Past the hour mark, Bondin surged forward through the middle before passing the ball to Alfred Effiong in the middle but the onrushing Hanford slid in to block the striker’s run.

It remained one-way traffic. Eight minutes later, Gabriel’s effort soared menacingly towards but Hanford tipped the ball over the bar.

But Qormi regained their lead in their next foray. Caruana exchanged ball with Leighton Grech who raced into the box before hitting a low shot behind Hanford.

With three minutes remaining, Clyde Borg released the incoming Luca Casha but the latter’s pass was intercepted by Sultana before Steve Pisani could flick the ball home.