QORMI-1, SLIEMA WANDERERS-3
Sliema Wanderers became the fifth team to secure a place in the Championship Pool after beating fellow top-six hopefuls Qormi 3-1 in a combative encounter this afternoon.
After a goalless first half, the game came to life in the second with Sliema hitting the third and decisive goal in stoppage time after Qormi had got back into contention with a Joseph Farrugia penalty.
Victory for Sliema lifted them alongside Birkirkara on the 32-point mark, six ahead of the seventh-placed Qormi who are still in with a chance of making the top six as they trail the sixth-placed Balzan by two points with only one game for the end of the first phase.
Qormi produced the first chance after 10 minutes. Jonathan Bondin played a good cross from the right and Abubakar Bello-Osagie turned to move past his marker inside the box only to hit over from an inviting position.
Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, then made a routine save from Lattes's grounder.
Qormi were dangerous again again when Jorginho took advantage of some hesitant defending by Sliema box to reach a loose ball at the far post but his effort was wide.
A period of scrappy football followed with both teams cancelling each out other.
After a difficult start, Sliema improved. Danail Mitev hit a strong drive from the outside of the box but Farrugia fisted the ball away. On
33 minutes, Farrugia used his feet to block Muscat's low strike after the Sliema captain had been sent clear by Emiliano Lattes.
The game remained balanced. Qormi protested for a penalty when Jorginho went down in the box after being challenge by Josef Mifsud but referee Fyodor Zammit waved play on.
Two minutes from half-time, Qormi came very close to taking the lead.
Joseph Farrugia's fine cross from a right-wing free-kick sailed towards the far post where Vincent Kouadio headed towards goal but his effort cannoned off the woodwork before Ryan Fenech cleared the danger.
It was Sliema who broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half.
Lattes was rewarded for his persistence as the Argentine profited from a miscued header by Koudaio to lift the ball over Farrugia and into the net.
The Blues came close to doubling their lead as Mitev raced past Kris Thackray but his angled effort was beaten away by Farrugia.
The Qormi goalkeeper pushed away Trevor Cilia's cross-shot from the ensuing corner as the Blues stayed on top.
Lattes nearly scored his second but his grounder was tipped away by Farrugia. The Argentine was again thwarted by Farrugia after being put through by Mitev but midway into the second half, Sliema doubled their lead thanks to midfielder Nikola Bogdanovic who raced into the box on the right and drilled a low shot past Farrugia.
Matthew Bartolo fired wide from inside the box but Qormi revived their hopes 20 minutes from time. They were awarded a penalty after Beppe Muscat was adjudged to have pushed Jorginho in the box and Farrugia scored with an emphatic finish.
This goal restored Qormi's confidence. Seven minutes from time, Sliema striker Anicet Eyenga, who had replaced Mitev, headed the ball off the line after Triston Caruana had anticipated Bonello as he rose to meet Farrugia's cross from a free-kick.
Sliema's problems mounted as Beppe Muscat was sent off for a second booking but, moments later, Qormi also finished with 10 men after Roderick Sammut was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident, The Blues sealed it in stoppage time when Fenech broke on the counter before passing to the unmarked Eyenga who flicked the ball past Farrugia.
Lattes was named BOV player of the match.