Qormi 1
Effiong 20
Ħamrun Spartans 2
Spiteri 48; Sultana 90
Stefan Sultana relied on his vast experience in the FA Trophy yesterday as he came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner against Qormi and put Ħamrun Spartans in the quarter-finals of the knock-out competition.
It was a dramatic end to a combative cup tie between these neighbouring rivals who fought tooth and nail in the first clash between the two clubs in many a year.
Qormi had shown the better fare in the first half and Alfred Effiong's opener was just reward for their organised play. But the Spartans hit back strongly in the second half and after Gaetan Spiteri put them level soon after the restart, Steve D'Amato's team applied an extra gear to reap the dividends.
Qormi, who had Keith Fenech sent off midway through the second half, were pegged back in their own half as the Spartans created chance after chance until 'old warhorse' Sultana finally struck the winner.
D'Amato effected one change from the team that beat Rabat in last week's first-round match. Young Karl Magro was dropped to the bench and his place was given to Mark Anthony Bonnici.
Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa kept faith with the same formation that started last week's 3-1 win over Pietà Hotspurs. Both teams adopted a cautious approach in the opening phase of the match and, as a consequence, there were few scoring chances at either end of the pitch. But that changed on 20 minutes when Qormi stormed ahead.
Ivan Da Silva's long pass into the Spartans half found Effiong on the right spot. The former Spartans striker went past Aaron Attard before unleashing a powerful shot that gave Ivan Casha no chance.
On 25 minutes, the Spartans could have drawn level when Manolito Micallef's cross found Spiteri in a good position but the latter headed wide. Spiteri claimed that he was pushed in the action but the referee was unmoved.
Micallef then did well to win possession on the right before delivering a teasing cross towards Dylan Kokavessis whose volley flew over.
The Spartans were now seeing more of the ball but were struggling to find openings in the solid Qormi defence.
A minute from half-time it was Qormi who almost doubled their lead when Anatole Debono's deflected shot flashed past the upright with Casha beaten.
The Spartans had a flying start to the second half, drawing level inside the opening three minutes. The goal owed much to the skill and balance of Spiteri who did well to control the ball just inside the box before chipping it over goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia who was caught out of position. Zoran Levnaic almost gifted Qormi a second goal on 55 minutes when he mistimed his clearance, opening a clear run to goal for Joseph Chetcuti who turned past Roderick Fenech but his shot was blocked by Casha.
Ħamrun hit back soon after when, from a Ryan Fenech free-kick, Spiteri headed just over. Qormi goalkeeper Farrugia then dived to his right to punch away a Micallef shot.
Qormi's cause suffered a blow on 70 minutes when Keith Fenech was shown the red card for a second booking and three minutes later the Spartans were again dangerous when Spiteri's centre found the unmarked Kokavessis who hit badly with only Farrugia to beat.
Farrugia was kept busy in the Qormi goal and deserved the all-round applause for producing a top-drawer save to keep out Levnaic's header from close in.
The Spartans were pushing for victory and nine minutes from time the woodwork denied Meilaq whose diving header hit the upright.
Qormi were holding tight and extra-time looked inevitable but on 90 minutes Micallef sped forward on the left before finding the towering Sultana who headed the ball past Farrugia.
Spiteri could have added further gloss to the Spartans' win in time added on but he incredibly lobbed the ball over with only Farrugia to beat.
Qormi
M. Farrugia, R. Dos Santos, M. Grima, A. Debono, K. Fenech, A. Effiong, J. Chetcuti, S. Tellus ('16 A. Ciantar), R. Sammut, I. Da Silva ('75 J. Saliba), P. Camilleri ('90 M. Borg).
Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha, M.A. Bonnici ('53 N. Galea), Z. Levnaic, A. Attard, Rod. Fenech, S. Meilaq ('90 D.A. Cucciardi), Ryan Fenech, R. Mangion, G. Spiteri, D. Kokavessis ('78 S. Sultana), M. Micallef.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Fenech; Debono; Chetcuti; Attard.
Red card: Fenech (Q) 70.