Sliema Wanderers 4
Ciantar 18; Lachkem 73; Mifsud Triganza 77; Obiefule 89;
Qormi 1
Karamonolis 33;
Sliema Wanderers struck three three times late in this match to condemn Qormi to a damaging 4-1 defeat and throw the relegation issue wide open again with just two matches to play.
After bottom side Vittoriosa Stars beat Hibernians on Friday, Qormi came into this match with the sole aim of winning all points at stake to ascertain themselves of their place in the Premier League next season. However, things failed to work according to plan for the depleted Yellow-Blacks who found a determined Sliema side too strong on the day with man-of-the-match Etienne Barbara or-chestrating the Wanderers to a deserved victory.
For Qormi, this latest upset left them facing the prospect of a decisive encounter with Vittoriosa who are five points behind.
These two teams clash against each other on Saturday and victory for the Reds would mean a tense finale in the last round of fixtures where they play Sliema and Qormi face Hibs.
Stephen Azzopardi, the Qormi coach, had a tough task in naming his starting formation as goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri, defenders Roderick Sammut, Jason Vandelannoite and Luke Sciberras, midfielders George Mallia and Cleaven Frendo and strikers Aboubaker Bello Osagie and Michael Mifsud were all unavailable either through injury or suspension.
In the absence of Bello Osagie and Mifsud, Josue was positioned as a lone striker with Joseph Farrugia and Joseph Chetcuti providing back-up.
Sliema took the field without midfielder Roderick Bajada, who was serving a one-match ban, while Alex Muscat and Josef Mifsud were still ruled out by injury.
Barbara was handed the captain’s armband in his last appearance for the Wanderers before returning to the US to re-join Carolina Railhawks.
Sliema almost gifted Qormi an opener on 10 minutes when Josue pounced on Clayton Failla’s short back-pass but was blocked by goalkeeper Victor Szentpeteri.
The stalemate was broken on 18 minutes. A rebound favoured Miguel Ciantar who dashed into the Qormi box and fired a shot past Matthew Farrugia.
That turned out to be Ciantar’s last contribution to the match as on 23 minutes the Sliema striker limped out injured and was replaced by Obinna Obiefule.
Meanwhile, Qormi’s injury worries deepened as Matthew Bartolo was unable to continue with a pulled hamstring.
Azzopardi’s men were looking short in ideas, particularly up front but they drew level on 33 minutes.
Joseph Farrugia’s free-kick was met by Christos Karamonolis whose header flew past a stranded Szentpeteri.
Sliema hit back immediately but Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was anticipated by Farrugia after a perfect ball from Mark Scerri.
The Wanderers became the more threatening side and six minutes from the break, Failla put Barbara through but Farrugia rushed out of his lines to deny the Sliema striker.
Qormi looked the more-inspired side at the start of the second half and after just two minutes, Chetcuti set up Kang Hojung whose shot was parried away by the Sliema goalkeeper.
The Blues’ response arrived on 54 minutes. Lackhem released Mifsud Triganza but his firm drive was pushed away by Farrugia.
The woodwork denied Sliema following a Lachkem drive that smacked against the bar with the Qormi keeper beaten.
Jackson Lima sustained Sliema’s pressure. He embarked on a mazy run that took him past two defenders but his attempted lob lacked precision. Then, from a Failla free-kick, the ball fell into the path of Barbara whose shot was blocked by Giglio. From the rebound the Sliema forward fired over.
Obiefule had the ball inside the Qormi net on 65 minutes but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.
That was a temporary reprieve for Qormi though as eight minutes later Barbara delivered an inviting cross towards Obiefule. He controlled the ball and set up Lachkem who blasted home past Farrugia.
Sliema scored again on 77 minutes when from another Barbara ball, Mifsud Triganza did well to dribble past the keeper and hit inside an empty net.
More misery was in store for Qormi as a minute from time Obiefule raced past two direct markers before planting the ball past Farrugia.
In time added on, Joseph Farrugia was unlucky to see his shot hitting the Sliema upright but that was too little too late for Qormi who must now regroup and make sure not to finish empty-handed again from their next match.
Sliema Wanderers
V. Szentpeteri-6, J. Briffa-6, M. Scerri-7 (58 N. Turner-6), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7, M. Ciantar (23 O. Obiefule-7), S. Bezzina-6.5, J. Lima-6.5, C. Lachkhem-7.5 (85 J. Mintoff), B. Muscat-6, C. Failla-7, E. Barbara-7.5.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-5.5, S. Giglio-5.5, M. Bartolo (29 I. Vazani-6.5), K. Fenech-6.5 (89 C. Farrugia), J. Chetcuti-6.5, J. Farrugia-6, C. Karamonolis-6, K. Hojung-5.5, G. Buttigieg-5, S. Agius-6.5 (77 J. Gerada), Josue-5.5.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Hojung, Barbara.
BOV Player of the match: Etienne Barbara (Sliema Wanderers).