Qrendi extend good moment of form with a deserved qualification

MFA The Malta FA Trophy: Rd 2

Kercem Ajax Stadium – 28 October 2018

Sannat L : 0

Mercieca, S. Mizzi, F.J. Xuereb, N. Micallef, F. Camilleri, J. Buttigieg, J. Zammit (S. Azzopardi), E.R. Okpokwu, D. Borg (C. Tabone), E. Gauci, M. Mifsud (K. Bonnici).

Qrendi FC : 3 (J.P. Da Silva Vargas 27’, D. Zarb 45+1’, K. Abela 73’)

Pace, D. Micallef, C. Caruana, L. Scorfna, D. Zarb (B. Sammut), D. Martini, J. Spiteri (B. Bondin), J.P. Da Silva Vargas, C. Quaranta, K. Abela, L. Silveira Da Silva.

MATCH REPORT

Qrendi FC from the BOV MFA Division I championship obtained a 3-0 win over Sannat Lions from the GFA BOV Gozo Football League Second Division at the Kercem Ajax Stadium so that they confirmed their good moment of form expressed the previous week in a league match.  Qrendi as expected held command of play for long stretches and paved the way to the qualification with two goals scored during the first half. The visitors controlled play after the break and sealed the win with a third goal. Sannat were very prudent in their paly tried to limit the danger inside their area and as result they left their reaction to the final stages of the encounter when their opponents had their minds at rest from the qualification.

Sannat, however, created the first scoring opportunity of the encounter in the first minute of play through a shot by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu that ended just wide.  Qrendi replied on 3 minutes through a header by veteran Kenneth Abela that ended away from Sannat’s goal and on 7 minutes Sannat’s keeper Courtney Mercieca was called to make a good save to turn to a corner a shot by Josuel Spiteri.  Qrendi increased their pressure on Sannat’s rearguard as time passed by and on 16 minutes a free kick by Christian Caruana was neutralised in two attempts by goalie Courtney Mercieca. Qrendi opened the score on 27 minutes through a header by Joao Pedro Da Silva Vargas following a corner kick by Ciro Quaranta.  Sannat replied on 34 minutes through a shot by Joseph Zammit after receiving inside the area form Ebube Raklph Okpokwu that missed the target and on 45 minutes Qrendi were again dangerous through a shot by Josuel Spiteri following a personal action that missed the target.  Qrendi scored their second goal in the first minute of stoppage time before half time when Jonatan Silveira Da Silva entered the area from the left flank and form his low pass Dylan Zarb fired in goal with a shot on the run.

On 50 minutes Sannat threatened Qrendi’s rearguard with a counter break but goalie Luke Pace left his position in time to take the ball near the edge of the area before Ebube Ralph Okpokwu could arrive on the ball to hit towards goal.  Five minutes later Qrendi’s Josuel Spiteri had a close ranged attempt that was well saved by goalie Courtney Mercieca. On 73 minutes Qrendi added another goal when Kenneth Abela took the ball following some hesitation by Sannat’s defenders to clear the danger from outside the area, entered the area and concluded in goal with a low shot.  Minutes later a free kick by Ciro Quaranta was well saved by Sannat’s goalie Courtney Mercieca and on 81 minutes Sannat went very close to reduce the score but a strike by Frankie Camilleri following a short clearance by Qrendi’s defense that was saved with some difficulty by goalie Luke Pace.  Sannat continued to be more offensive during the final minutes of the encounter and in the second minute of play of stoppage time the hosts went again close to scoring through a lob by substitute Kenneth Bonnici that surprised Qrendi’s keeper but the ball hit the post and defender Bjorn Bondin cleared the danger to a corner.  Less than a minute later Sannat had a header by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu following a corner action that was cleared off the line by Darryl Micallef so that the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

Referee: Shaun Calleja