Qormi back on track with Caetano Da Silva brace

Football - BOV First Division

Qormi Pembroke A 3 1

Qormi returned to winning ways after dropping their only points in a draw against Zebbug, beating bottom of the table side Pembroke 3-1, with striker Caetano Da Silva scoring a brace.

Without Chrisd Matombo suspended, Qormi were not irresistible but were still good enough to beat Pembroke who just cannot cancel their ten-point penalty. It was not Pembroke’s lucky afternoon either as they suffered Qormi’s second goal in their best patch, had two players sent off in the second half, and were forced to make two substitutions in the first part.

Qormi took the lead on eleven minutes when captain Alessio Cassar had a good run on the left flank before crossing towards Caetano Da Silva who rounded a defender before beating Gerada from close range.

Pembroke failed to react and were also unlucky to lose Yanis Tonna who was rushed to hospital after a collission with Michael Camilleri. Coach Joe Grech was forced to make another substitution as Warren Chicop limped off just before the break.

Scoring chances were few in this first half with Qormi hold- ing the upper hand and missing a glorious chance on 42 minutes when Yankam show well off target from an ideal position after a good pass by Caetano Da Silva. On their part Pembroke’s best chance came on 32 minutes through Njongo Priso with his deflected shot going just wide.

Two minutes into the second half Pembroke drew level thanks to Njongo Priso gem of a goal, when he fired in the top corner of the net from the edge of the area. But on the hour Qormi were back in front when a Lubos Adamec header hit the crossbar and Caetano Da Silva’s header from the rebound was handled on the goal line by Glenn Azzopardi.

Referee Barbara awarded the penalty and Azzopardi was shown the red card. From the penalty spot Caetano Da Silva made no mistake. Pembroke tried desperately to get back in the match but it was not an easy task as Qormi defended well.

Fifteen minutes from time Pembroke threw in the towel when their defender Caio inadvertedly headed towards Yanncik Yankam who headed home from an acute angle. Seven minutes from time Qormi’s Shamison Zammit was sent off from the substitute’s bench and sec- onds later Pembroke were down to nine men when Alves Da Souza Caio received a second booking.

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, J. Caetano Da Silva (I. Micallef 86 min), Y. Yankam, L. Busuttil, M. Camilleri (I. Zammit 73 min), B. Grech, A. Abela, A. Cassar, L. Adamec, J. Salaroli (N. Ghio 65 min), D. Vukovic.

Pembroke A: K. Gerada, M.A. Borg, N. Grech, I. Misan, G. Azzopardi, R. Refalo (Z. Grech 64 min), A. De Souza Caio, W. Chircop (J. Nwoba 44 min), Y. Tonna (M. Mifsud 18 min), N. Priso, J.P. Mifsud Triganza.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara Qormi Vittoriosa S Mqabba Pieta H Żejtun C Żebbuġ R Sirens Qrendi San Ġwann Żabbar SP Melita Marsa Rabat A Pembroke PW D 8 7 1 8 4 2 8 4 1 7 4 0 7 3 3 8 3 3 7 3 1 7 2 4 7 2 4 7 1 3 7 2 0 8 1 3 7 0 0 8 2 3 L F A Pts 0 22 8 22 2 17 11 14 3 15 10 13 3 14 10 12 1 12 8 12 2 10 10 12 3 12 13 10 1 11 9 10 1 9 7 10 3 8 12 6 5 7 17 6 4 8 14 6 7 7 26 0 3 12 9 -1