Qormi-Tarxien R. 3-0
Qormi: M. Farrugia, A. Effiong, R. Sammut, E. Vella, R. Bajada, J. Gabriel (D. Pirotta), G.Nucera (L. Del Guidice), O. Bugeja, L.Grech, M.Petrassi, J. Bondin
Tarxien R: N. Vella, C. Mamo, A. Agius (M. Ciantar), M. Potezika,S. Sadowski (A. Curmi), R. Caiheira, Everton , R. Sammut, C. Menendez (K. Pulo), J. Mifsud, Jorge Silva
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Apap
Additional asst.refs: M. Apap, P. Caruana
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: R.Bajada 35 pen, A. Effiong 50 pen, J. Gabriel 76
Yellow cards: J. Mifsud, J. Silva, E. Vella, O. Bugeja, M. Ciantar
Red card: N. Vella
Player of the match: J. Gabriel (Qormi)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Gabriel 2. J. Bondin 3. J. Silva
Two penalties and a dismissal to their goalkeeper, cost Tarxien Rainbows dearly as they succumbed to defeat against a revitalised Qormi side, who almost always produces their best against the Rainbows.
That brought the Rainbows’ short run of form to a brisk end but was a welcome boost for Qormi who now move a place and two points above Vittoriosa Stars.
Both sides made a rift of changes as they are going through contrasting fortunes. Qormi were winless in their last three matches while Tarxien had collected four points from their previous two.
Before kick off the teams were separated by four points.
Tarxien were bolstered by their win against Hibernians and the league debut of their new Spanish recruit Carlos Menendez as a holding midfielder in their 4-1-4-1 initial set up. Lopez Alcantara and Luca Martinelli were both suspended while the injured Manuel Caruana was replaced by Steve Sadowski. Miguel Ciantar started on the bench but he was drafted in five minutes before the interval after Qormi had taken the lead.
Qormi were also giving a debut start to Brazilian midfielder Joao Gabriel, no newcomer to Maltese football after having played for Valletta last season. He was the protagonist when procuring his side’s first penalty, hit the upright and scored the third goal to be voted man of the match. Alfred Effiong and Owen Bugeja were also back after suspension, but Bellucci and Duncan Pisani were missing for the same reason.
The match started at the customary plodding pace of local football. Both teams took long to settle during the first half hour and Qormi’s keeper Matthew Farrugia, back in goal, was only called to block Calheira’s shot, as he connected on Jorge Silva’s pass and advanced inside the area after eight minutes.
Past the half hour, Calheira headed Sadowski’s cross over the bar and on the other end Nucera also failed to put his header on target on Grioli’s cross.
Qormi were awarded the first of two penalties on 35 minutes, enabling them to break the deadlock, as Mifsud was late with his tackle on Gabriel on the edge of the Tarxien box and Roderick Bajada tucked it away.
Tarxien failed to make an immediate reaction though and it was only on the stroke of halftime that they threatened with a Jorge Silva shot going tantalisingly wide on a Mamo free kick.
Qormi doubled the lead with another penalty five minutes into the second half. This time Effiong went on one of his trademark runs to beat the Tarxien offside trap, on a Grech pas,s and lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper but was pulled down by the Tarxien custodian as he tried to steer the ball in. Keeper Vella was sent off and Anthony Curmi deputised in goal, only to pick the ball from the net when beaten by Alfred Effiong’s shot from the spot.
The match was as good as over already by then as Tarxien threw away the towel and Qormi looked vastly superior in all sectors of the pitch. Bajada’s corner from the right was headed by Effiong towards Gabriel who hit the foot of the post.
Gabriel made no mistake on 76 minutes though as he went past the slow Mifsud down the left and beat keeper Curmi with a low diagonal strike to add some shine to the result.
And it could have been even more for Qormi as Mamo cleared into a corner before Effiong could connect on Grech’s cross from the right.
Four minutes from the end, substitute Pirotta forced Curmi to pull the smartest save with his volley off Grech’s cross from the right.