Qormi: M. Farrugia, K. Thackray, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo (G. Buttigieg), S. Siritto (V. Pisani), A. Bello-Osagie, L. Sciberras, M. Gauci, E. Zarate, J. Bondin, L. Grech
Tarxien R: N. Vella, C. Mamo (S. Sadowski), M. Caruana, Evaldo (L. De Castro), R. Bajada, D. Meira, A. Esposito, R. Sammut, D. Bueno, D. Fenech (K. Pulo), O. Anonam
Referee: A. Arciola
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, E. Grech
4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: S. Siritto 49, V. Pisani 87, D. Bueno 89
Yellow cards: M. Gauci, Evaldo, A. Esposito, A. Bello-Osagie, D. Meira
Player of the match: E. Zarate (Qormi)
TMI top 3: 1. E. Zarate 2. R. Bajada 3. L. Grech
A below par performance saw Tarxien Rainbows succumb to defeat against resurgent Qormi, thus ending a positive streak of four unbeaten matches.
The Rainbows were devoid of ideas yesterday, with Esposito and Meira only producing their best in flashes, despite the voluminous work of Roderick Bajada in midfield. Although they held on in a goalless first half, Tarxien conceded two goals at the start and end of the second half as Qormi looked the better side throughout. Tarxien’s goal in the dying minutes proved too little too late.
A much revamped Qormi recovered their winning form. This victory, the first since coach Jesmond Zerafa took over, follows another encouraging draw against Birkirkara for Qormi who now lift themselves above Floriana in the standings.
Profligate, mostly through Bello-Osagie in the first half, Qormi struggled to turn their superiority into goals but were finally rewarded for their perseverance and efficiency. Argentine Edison Zarate was the catalyst behind his side’s success , prominently involved in many of their build-ups, also providing the assist for Siritto’s opening goal. That gave them the breathing space they needed at a time when Tarxien were showing signs of improvement.
The teams went into this match with contrasting fortunes. Tarxien were unbeaten in their previous four matches, Qormi were without a win in six.
Tarxien were buoyed by the return from suspension of Evaldo as well as Carlo Mamo at the back, although the latter played for only five minutes after injury, and was substituted by Steve Sadowski. Justin Grioli, Karl Pulo and Steve Bonnici were named among the substitutes.
On their part Qormi, without the suspended midfielder Joseph Chetcuti, gave a start to Leighton Grech while Vincenzo Pisani was replaced by Sebastiano Siritto following their draw against Birkirkara the previous week.
Qormi, who had the determination to take the play to tehir opponents, carved out the game’s first two scoring opportunities. On 12 minutes, Siritto was through inside the Tarxien area on Bello-Osaagie’s pass but was thwarted by the onrushing keeper Vella.
Two minutes later Qormi were close again after Anonam headed Bartolo’s throw-in, against the bar almost committing an own goal.
Tarxien’s first threat was delayed until the 20th minute. Meira intelligently followed up Sciberras’ hasty clearance, won possession on the edge of the area but put his final shot off target.
Qormi remained slightly better. Past the half hour Grech played a good pass to Bello-Osagie who grounded theTarxiens keeper before crossing low from the byeline but Sammut cleared into a corner. From Zarate’s corner, the ball rebounded off several players inside the Tarxien box until Bello-Osagie hit over and wide.
Befor the half was over, Tarxien missed half chances through Bueno, shooting narrowly wide, after Bajada had laid the ball low in his path, and an Evaldo free kick over the bar.
Qormi continued where they left off in the second half and soon broke the deadlock within four minutes of resumption. Sebastiano Siritto played a deft one-two with Zarate, ran into open space inside Tarxien area and beat keeper Vella with a low diagonal drive.
Qormi had Bartolo stretchered off soon after and Tarxien missed the most glaring of opportunities on 65 minutes. Substitute Pulo, in for Fenech at thstart of the second half, was through, all alone on a missed Qormi defensive clearance. With only the goalkeeper in his way, he contrived to shoot off target.
Tarxien’s frustration was evident when Daniel Bueno twice came in contact with Bondin. The players exchanged some words in a head-to-head confrontation before Qormi keeper Matthew Farrugia was called to make the most difficult save of the match, holding out Esposito’s powerful shot after the ball fell to on a defensive clearance from Bajada’s cross from the left.
Qormi made sure of the points three minutes from time after some good work by Grech. He played the ball back for substitute Vincenzo Pisani to hit low past the helpless keeper Vella.
There was still time however for Tarxien to pull one back as Daniel Bueno rose high to head in Esposito’s sailing free kick from the left with one minute of normal time remaining. But that was only scant consolation for a very poor performance by the Rainbows.