MOSTA-1, QORMI-2
Qormi produced a spirited performance to dismiss the challenge of Mosta in an interesting match.
Alfred Effiong was instrumental in Qormi's win as the Nigerian scored his side's first goal and caused several problems to Mosta with his agility and speed.
Mosta looked to have saved a point after levelling matters with a late own goal but Qormi were not to be denied as Roderick Bajada converted a penalty to give his team three valuable points.
Qormi produced the first change after four minutes when Effiong drifted into the box from the left but his grounder was off target.
A promising Mosta attack was halted by Owen Bugeja who made a timely tackle to stop the advancing Bojan Kaljevic in the box after the Montenegrin striker had been put through by Brazilian Ricardinho.
On 15 minutes, Qormi had a good chance to take the lead. Leighton Grech's cross from the right was touched on by Riccardo Innocenti and the ball fell at the feet of Christian Terribile whose dipping effort from inside the box was tipped away for a corner by Omar Borg, the Mosta goalkeeper.
Qormi took a deserved lead on 19 minutes. Pouncing on a defensive mistake, Effiong sped into the box before firing past Borg.
Second best for much of the opening stages, Mosta had to wait until the 28th minute to produce a glimmer of a chance. Nicola Cosentini's corner from the right was met by Slovakian midfielder Lukas Duriska but his header sailed over the bar.
As the end of the first half approached, Mosta showed signs of improvement. Five minutes from half-time, Fernandes' free-kick ended high.
Mosta started the second half more aggressively.
Kaljevic's powerful run took him into the Qormi box but his firm drive from an angled position was wide.
In their first notable attack of the second half, Qormi should have increased their lead. Effiong advanced unchallenged before passing to Bugeja who had made a strong run from defence but his low shot drew a good save from Borg.
Mosta protested for a penalty when Giuseppe Bellucci's challenge on Fernandes sent the latter tumbling to the ground but referee Tonna saw nothing wrong.
With 21 minutes remaining, Mosta's Ricardinho broke clear through the middle before hitting a rising drive that cannoned off the top of the crossbar.
Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, then stopped Tyrone Farrugia's far-post header from Fernandes's right-wing corner.
Mosta equalised on 75 minutes. Micallef cut into the box from the left and supplied a cross which Qormi defender Bugeja turned into his own net as he tried to clear.
Three minutes later, Qormi came close to regaining the lead when Innocenti's cross from the right sailed towards the far post but Effiong's header was saved by Borg.
Ten minutes from time, Qormi gained a boost in the shape of a penalty after Mosta goalkeeper Borg was adjudged to have brought down substitute Federico Santaguida in the box. Roderick Bajada made no mistake from the spot.
The game burst into life. Mosta were denied an equaliser by Farrugia who pushed away substitute James Brincat's volley from inside the penalty area.
Effiong, voted player of the match, should have made the points safe for Qormi when he again got behind the Mosta defenders but his low effort was wide.
In stoppage time, Mosta almost grabbed a dramatic equaliser but Fernandes' attempt, following a goalmouth melee, was belted away by Jonathan Bondin.