Qormi join Sliema in third place — Tarxien win derby

Qormi scored three in the second half to beat Sliema Wanderers 3-0, joining them in third place.

In case, BOV Premier League runners-up Valletta win the U*BET FA Trophy, a decider between Qormi and Sliema would be necessary to determine which team would be taking part in the UEFA Europa League.

After a quiet start for the two teams, a fine shot by Clayton Failla was turned into a corner by Matthew Farrugia on 23 minutes. Ryan Fenech then concluded a solo effort with a good shot which was blocked and off the rebound, Clayton Failla hit wide.

In added time, Alfred Effiong hit the crossbar with a header following a cross from the left by Joseph Farrugia.

Effiong went close once again five minutes in the second half with a close-range header off a cross by Matthew Bartolo from the right.

Qormi managed to break the deadlock on the hour when they were awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Simon Agius rushed to the edge of the area to halt Alfred Effiong’s run on the right flank for what seemed a rather harsh decision on the Blues. From the penalty spot, Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo converted. For Camilo, this was the 24th goal of the season to be crowned BOV Premier League top scorer.

Appeals for another penalty following contact inside the area between Camilo and Simon Agius three minutes later were turned down by the referee on 63 minutes. Two minutes later, a freekick by Ryan Fenech from the right was parried by Matthew Farrugia aided by the posts.

Qormi doubled the score on 79 minutes when Camilo Da Silva entered the penalty area from the right and served Joseph Farrugia who flicked the ball home from close range.

Sliema could have pulled one back on 84 minutes but a great freekick by substitute Pedro Calcado ended just wide.

However two minutes from time, Qormi added another goal when following a good run by Alfred Effiong, goalkeeper Simon Agius rushed to the edge of the area to block his attempt, the ball reached Stefan Giglio on the left, who controlled before hitting home.

After the final whistle, while the players were heading to the tunnel, Josef Mifsud was shown the red card by referee Marco Borg.

Alfred Effiong was voted BOV Player of the Match.

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Duncan Pisani, Ramon Dos Santos, Massimo Grima, Matthew Bartolo (67’ Stefan Giglio), Keith Fenech (83’ Kenneth Spiteri), Alfred Effiong, Joseph Farrugia, Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo, Stephen Wellman, Roderick Sammut (90′ Ryan Deguara).
Subs not used: Matthew Camilleri, Malcolm Buttigieg, Stephen Meilak, George Chircop.
Coach: Vince Carbonaro
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

SLIEMA Simon Agius, Alex Muscat, Ian Azzopardi, Josef Mifsud, Ryan Fenech, Mark Scerri, Ivan Woods, Lucian Dronca, Julio Alcorse (66’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), John Mintoff, Clayton Failla (83’ Pedro Henrique Dos Santos Calcado).
Subs not used: Jeremy Alden, Noel Turner, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Amadeo Mercieca, Ian Ciantar.
Coach: Mark Marlow
Team Manager: Rupert Perry

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: M. Scerri, S. Wellman, C. Failla, S. Agius, J. Mifsud, A. Muscat
Red Cards: Josef Mifsud
Scorers: 60’ Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo (pen), 79’ Joseph Farrugia, 88′ Stefan Giglio

Tarxien Rainbows ended their commitments in fifth place, six points ahead of neighbours and rivals Hibernians thanks to a narrow 1-0 win in the derby.

For the Paolites this was a most disappointing finale as they suffered the ninth consecutive defeat.

Both sides were unable to field their best formation. Andrew Decesare, Kurt Magro and Anderson Mendes Ribeiro were ruled out for the Rainbows while Jonathan Pearson, Jean Paul Farrugia, Miguel Lopes De Pina and Elton Morelato were missing for the Paolites.

Tarxien had the first shot at goal with a fine freekick by David Camilleri from the right which was parried by goalkeeper Mario Muscat on 12 minutes. Hibs replied with a first-time effort by Christian Callejas ended just wide on the 19th and less than a minute later, Triston Caruana tested Curmi with a powerful shot from outside the area which was turned into a corner.

On 23 minutes, Andrew Cohen served Chris Camilleri whose long-distance shot ended just wide. Then on the 42nd, a freekick by Andrew Cohen was partially saved by the Tarxien goalkeeper. Just before the break, Sadowski served Denni Rocha Dos Santos with a good cross from the left but the Brazilian midfielder concluded wide.

Fourteen minutes in the second half, off a cross from the right by Edward Herrera, Ben Camilleri had a header from close range turned into a corner by Curmi. On the other side of the pitch, Muscat blocked into a corner a good shot by Ryan Grech following a fine run on the right flank on 65 minutes. A minute later, Denni entered the penalty area from the left but his conclusion was neutralised by the Hibs goalkeeper.

Edward Herrera had a shot from outside the area by Anthony Curmi on 75 minutes. Four minutes later, Herrera was unlucky not to put the Paolites ahead when off a cross by Triston Caruana, his goal-bound shot was cleared off the goal-line by Ryan Mintoff.

On 82 minutes, Ryan Grech sent Gianluca Calabretta through inside the area and after rounding the goalkeeper, he served Lee Galea whose powerful shot ended high.

Tarxien scored the all-important goal five minutes from time. Aaron Xuereb brought Gianluca Calabretta down inside the area. Ryan Grech’s effort from the penalty spot was blocked by Mario Muscat but off the rebound, the same Tarxien midfielder placed the ball at the back of the net.

Anthony Curmi was voted BOV Player of the Match.

HIBS Mario Muscat, Jonathan Caruana, Edward Herrera, Adrian Pulis (87’ Ayrton Azzopardi), Aaron Xuereb, Christian Callejas, Andrew Cohen, Chris Camilleri, (76’ Dylan Sammut), Triston Caruana, Matthew Tabone (67’ Keith Tanti), Ben Camilleri
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, John Micallef, Rene Duca, Yan Cauchi.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Edmond Lufi

TARXIEN Anthony Curmi, Steven Sadowski, Manuel Caruana, David Camilleri, Gianluca Calabretta (88’ James Shead), Everton Antonio Pereira, Mark Tanti (63’ Lee Galea), Denni Rocha Dos Santos (91’ Warren Zerafa), Ryan Mintoff, Ryan Grech, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Melchior Grech, Luke Vella Critien, Clive Fenech.
Coach: Neil Coleiro
Assistant Coach: Michael Church

Referee: Paul Caruana
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Gordon Barbara
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow Cards: A. Pulis, B. Camilleri, J. Caruana, A. Cohen, C. Camilleri, Xuereb, L. Galea
Scorers: 85’ Ryan Grech