Tarxien R.-Qormi 0-3
Tarxien R: A. Curmi, S. Sadowski (M. Pisani), E. De Lima, W. Chircop (J. Shead), M. Tanti (M. Caruana), A. Decesare, R. Schembri, D. Bueno, L. Vella Critien, D. Dos Santos, D. Camilleri
Qormi: M. Farrugia, C. Ciantar (R. Sammut), R. Dos Santos, M. Grima, K. Fenech, A. Effiong, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia (G. Chircop), M. Borg, J. Da Silva (S. Wellman), P. Camilleri
Referee: C. Lautier asst.refs: I. Spiteri, J. Camilleri 4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: A. Effiong (2), J. Chetcuti
Yellow cards: R. Schembri, E. De Lima
Player of the match: Alfred Effiong (Qormi)
TMI top three: 1. A. Effiong 2. J. Chetcuti 3. D. Dos Santos
Qormi clinched a morale-boosting win over opponents Tarxien Rainbows with three second half goals, to move away from the bottom of the Relegation Pool and keep their hopes of salvation alive. If they manage to avoid the slide, Qormi would be indebted to their striker Alfred Effiong. Yesterday he scored another brace, to take his tally to six in his last three matches. But he couldn’t have achieved that without the movement and skill of Joseph Chetcuti and Joseph Farrugia around him.
By contrast, Tarxien have taken only one point, and failed to score, in their last two outings and remain well embroiled in the relegation battle, on equal points with Qormi, two points above Msida SJ who play Hamrun Spartans this afternoon.
Tarxien, who had defender Gatt Baldacchino suspended, were quicker on the ball in the opening stages and after 18 minutes, Vella Critien hit the foot of the post with a low drive from outside the area.
But Qormi, aware that time is running out for them, showed all their attacking intents with Da Silva and Chetcuti supporting Effiong up front. Tarxien’s central defender De Lima was always at pains trying to block Effiong. They were also missing Adrian Ciantar through suspension and were forced to substitute the injured Clifton Ciantar after 23 minutes. Before that, a Da Silva cross was headed down by Effiong with keeper Curmi turning into a corner.
Towards the half hour, Grima played the ball forward to Farrugia who tested the Tarxien keeper with a fierce shot on the turn.
The second half belonged to Qormi and Alfred Effiong in particular. On 56 minutes, the Qormi striker shrugged off Schembri’s challenge on the edge of the area and beat keeper Curmi with a low strike.
Soon after Effiong anticipated De Lima on Chetcuti’s cross but headed wide.
He was on target on 70 minutes though, flicking his header at the far post, on Fenech’s perfect cross from the right.
The industrious Joseph Chetcuti put the issue beyond doubt for Qormi eight minutes later when he latched on Borg’s cross inside area and sidefooted the ball past the helpless Curmi.
With the Tarxien defence completely in disarray, Chetcuti nearly added another goal in the late stages but played the ball slightly too long on Farrugia’s pass and keeper Curmi could block at his feet.