Valletta come good in second half to see off Qormi

Valletta 1
Scerri 70
Qormi 0

A wintry National Stadium was the venue of the eagerly-awaited second-round showdown between Qormi and Valletta yesterday. The tantalising prospect of a rip-roaring encounter between one of the country's traditional heavyweights and an emerging force drew a sizeable crowd despite the biting cold.

Under mounting pressure to justify their lofty credentials, Valletta atoned for a lacklustre first-half showing to dominate the fading Qormi.

With the wind blowing behind their backs, Jesmond Zerafa's battling troops had been the better side in the opening 45 minutes but failure to convert a couple of late chances left them facing an uphill struggle.

As Valletta turned the screw in the second half, the fans' disappointment at their recent toils dissipated as Terrence Scerri struck 20 minutes from time to give the Whites a 1-0 victory and propel them back to the summit with 30 points, one ahead of their victims and Birkirkara who, however, have a game in hand.

Before kick-off, Stefan Giglio marched towards the City fans and presented them with flowers.

Giglio was making his first appearance against his former team since joining Qormi on a short-term loan deal.

Coach Ton Caanen used a 4-4-2 formation with Scerri and the returning Declan O'Brien leading City's attack. Jamie Pace was assigned screening duties in front of a four-man defence but Edmond Agius was not there to share the burden as Caanen restored winger Dyson Falzon to the starting formation.

There was also no place for Steve Borg in City's starting XI as Caanen switched Roderick Briffa to right-back. Captain Gilbert Agius was ruled out by suspension.

Zerafa limited himself to one alteration from the team that turned in a robust performance in last week's 2-2 draw with Hibs. Captain Joseph Farrugia, back in the fray after completing his recovery from injury, replaced the suspended Keith Fenech.

Whereas most teams tend to favour an ultra-cautious approach when playing Valletta, Zerafa kept faith with a 4-4-2 line-up that was topped by their fearsome attacking duo of Camilo and Alfred Effiong.

Hardly 90 seconds from the start had elapsed when Falzon had a chance to put Valletta ahead but volleyed over from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Camilo retrieved possession in a dangerous position but dragged his cross-shot across the box and towards a posse of City defenders.

On 13 minutes, Effiong set off on a powerful run which caused consternation among the back-pedalling Valletta defenders. The Nigerian swept past Luke Dimech but the City defence blocked his initial pass only for the ball to roll towards Giglio whose drive was also repelled.

Danger again beckoned Valletta when a clearance by Andrew Hogg, who had rushed out of goal to intercept a ball, fell to Massimo Grima in the middle. The former City midfielder let fly from the distance but his effort was dealt with by Dimech.

The soggy pitch was making life difficult for the players, especially for the City defenders whose struggles to find their passing range caused them a few anxious moments.

Then, the City faithful rejoiced when, with 26 minutes of the game gone, their team was awarded a penalty.

O'Brien's header from Kevin Sammut's free-kick appeared to have been cleared away by the Qormi defence but the ball fell to Pace whose cross looked to have been deflected by Massimo Grima's hand. From the ensuing scramble, Scerri's flick came off the crossbar but referee Clayton Pisani had already blown his whistle for the penalty.

Priso struck his penalty towards the right corner but Matthew Farrugia read his intentions and duly palmed the ball away to the delight of the Qormi supporters. Camilo could have added to their joy but his free-kick flew over the bar.

Eight minutes from half-time, Briffa arrowed a teasing cross from the right but Farrugia leapt forward to push the ball away.

Qormi then came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Stephen Wellman rose to meet Farrugia's fine set-piece cross but his downward header dropped inches wide of the far post.

With Valletta showing signs of weariness, Qormi pressed forward with renewed vigour.

Giglio advanced through the middle before slipping a through-ball to Effiong who surged past Kenneth Scicluna but mishit his shot after losing his footing.

In next to no time, Matthew Bartolo dallied past Bezzina and ran into the box but his effort was kept out by Hogg.

On the stroke of half-time, Valletta had a glorious chance to forge ahead. Drifting wide to pull clear of the attentive Qormi centre-halves, O'Brien made headway on the right before crossing for Falzon in the six-yard box. The winger was in an excellent position but his scrambled effort was blocked by the sliding Jonathan Bondin.

Caanen reshaped tactics at half-time. Borg came on for O'Brien and went on to take up patrolling duties on the right as Briffa was moved to midfield. Scerri was now deployed as a lone striker with Priso and Falzon providing width from midfield.

Zerafa responded to Caanen's tactical manoeuvres by detailing Effiong to drop deeper in support of his midfield colleagues.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Priso's cross fell to Pace whose backward header was stopped by Farrugia.

Valletta had a more resilient look about them in the second half as they attacked with the wind behind their backs.

Ramon, definitely one of the best defenders in the Premier League, rescued Qormi from a potentially damaging situation as the Brazilian lunged forward to strike the ball away from Scerri inside the box. From the free-kick, taken by Sammut, Dimech drove wide.

With 20 minutes remaining, Valletta nosed ahead.

Scicluna was the unlikely provider as his dipping cross from a deep position soared towards Scerri whose header seemed to be within Farrugia's reach but the ball spun off the keeper's gloves and into the net.

Qormi looked shell-shocked as the Citizens went for the kill.

Priso pulled the ball back for Falzon whose shot was blocked. Sammut then released Scerri who turned well inside the area but his diagonal effort was deflected away for a corner.

With 14 minutes remaining, Sammut, an effervescent figure for the Citizens in the second period, fashioned a menacing free-kick but Farrugia reacted in time to palm the ball out at the far post.

For the remaining minutes, Valletta stayed in control as Qormi failed to produce a reaction.

Valletta
A. Hogg-7, S. Bezzina-6, R. Briffa-6, K. Scicluna-6.5, L. Dimech-7, K. Sammut-7, J. Pace-6.5, T. Scerri-6.5 ('88 I. Zammit), D. Falzon-6.5, D. O'Brien-5.5 ('46 S. Borg-7), D. Priso-6.5 ('90 E. Agius).

Qormi
M. Farrugia-7, Ramon-8, S. Wellman-6.5, R. Sammut-5, J. Bondin-6, M. Grima-5.5, M. Bartolo-6.5, S. Giglio-6, J. Farrugia-6 ('90 R. Deguara), A. Effiong-5.5, Camilo-5.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Missed penalty: Priso (V) 26.

Yellow cards: Grima; Scicluna; Wellman; Dimech; Falzon.

BoV player of the match: Kevin Sammut (Valletta).