Floriana-Tarxien R. 1-2

Floriana: L. Saidi, O. Bugeja (C. Cassar), B. Said, I. Sokolov, M. Micallef, C. Caruana (R. Darmanin), M. Mecerod, I. Woods, J. Borg, T. Farrugia, C. Borg (P. Doffo) - Coach: T. Raykov

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, M. Caruana, R. Costa, C. Dos Santos Rodriguez, S. Pacheco (J. Vella), M. Tanti, D. Bueno (G. Calabretta), L. Vella Critien (R. Mintoff), O. Anonam, L. Galea, J. Grioli - Coach: N. Coleiro

Referee: M. Borg; Asst. refs: W. Debattista, M. Mercieca; 4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: S. Pacheco 43, 63

Yellow cards: O. Anonam, M. Mecerod, T. Farrugia, I. Sokolov, L. Galea, P. Doffo

Player of the match: Sergio Pacheco

TMI top 3: 1. S. Pacheco 2. M. Micallef 3. R. Costa

Tarxien Rainbows continued with their positive run, notching their second consecutive league win against Floriana to lift themselves on equal points with the same Greens.

This success was mainly attributed to their three Brazilians, Costa, Rodriguez and Pachecho, who combined to telling effect to down Floriana with a goal in each half.

The second, one of Pacheco’s brace in the match, was one of sheer quality, with the simplest of execution but with a touch of Brazilian class and a clinical finish, involving the three of them.

Floriana fizzled out early after a promising start as they handed the initiative to their opponents and could never recover after conceding the second goal.

They had Owen Bugeja back in defence after injury but Dzhorov was still unfit to start and was named among the substitutes. Mecerod was named in their initial line-up.Their bench alslo included Ryan Darmanin, Pablo Doffo and Christian Cassar.

Tarxien had David Cassar deputising for the regular Anthony Curmi in goal and Ryan Mintoff was dropped to make way for Lee Galea.

Woods’ shot on the turn, on Micallef’s cross in the opening minutes, went wide.

Woods again headed another Micallef cross off target as Floriana were crafting their better chances from the left flank.

Floriana’s keeper Saidi remained mostly inoperative for most of the half and the biggest threat came from his own team mate on 17 minutes when Sokolov nearly beat him as he tried to prevent Rodriguez from reaching for the ball.

The latter missed the target on a Pacheco good progression and cross from the right.

But the two Brazilians combined well two minutes before the break to give Tarxien Rainbows the lead.

Rodriguez was the provider for the unmarked Sergio Pacheco to beat keeper Saidi from the edge of the area.

Tarxien substituted the injured Bueno with Calabretta at halftime. But Floriana probed for an equaliser. Clyde Borg played the ball through to Woods, wide on the left but he was blocked into a corner by two Tarxien defenders.

On 53 minutes a Joseph Borg cross from the right was deflected towards Woods who tested keeper Cassar with a dipping header.

On 63 minutes, Floriana were undone by Tarxien’s second goal, which had a Brazilian trademark all over it. Rodriguez’s pass through the middle, split the entire Floriana defence. Costa back heeled the ball to clear Sergio Pacheco inside the area and beat keeper Saidi with some tricky footwork.

Floriana effected a double substitution, putting in Christian Cassar and Ryan Darmanin.

But that had little effect for the remainder of the match as Tarxien, who had Ryan Mintoff going in for the last quarter hour, could defend their lead with minimal difficulty.

They also threatened again with Rodriguez heading Costa’s cross over.

Floriana’s late desperate and chaotic efforts came from a Christian Cassar free kick, palmed out by the Tarxien custodian, and a Sokolov shot from a tight angle.

Mecerod produced the last shot of the match with the grounded keeper Cassar saving comfortably.