Floriana 5

Tarxien R 1

Floriana: L. Saidi, B. Said (O. Bugeja), T. Paris, T. Farrugia, D. Pisani, P. Doffo (J. Borg), I. Woods, D. Draganov (S. Borg), C. Cassar, M. Micallef, D. Nwoke

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, E. Pereira, G. Calabretta (S. Hili), R. Costa, C. Rodriguez, S. Pacheco (A. Farrugia), L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff (J. Vella), L. Galea

Referee: A. Arciola asst.refs: A. Camilleri, M. Mercieca 4th official: F. Zammit

Scorers: T. Farrugia 15, 19, 21, D. Draganov 32, S. Pacheco 48 pen, P. Doffo 58

Yellow cards: O. Anonam, L. Vella Critien, G. Calabretta, L. Saidi, C. Rodriguez, C. Cassar

Player of the match: T. Farrugia (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. C. Cassar 2. C. Rodriguez 3. T. Farrugia

Attendance: 816

SILVIO VELLA

A revamped Floriana side recovered their winning form on a rainy afternoon to brush aside Tarxien’s challenge and lift themselves temporarily in second place above the same Tarxien and Marsaxlokk.

Floriana were still reeling from an embarrassing defeat by Marsaxlokk, which brought about the sacking of their coach and technical director, Todor Raykov as well as the departure of both Dzhorov and Fernandez.

But a Tyrone Farrugia hat-trick within six minutes, ensured the Greens return to winning ways after four consecutive defeats, against out-of form Tarxien, themselves coming from an abysmal run of only one win in seven previous league matches.

This was a first win for Floriana under the complete charge of Michael Woods as they seemed to adapt better to the water-logged pitch, following continuous rain at the Hibernians Stadium. Their defender Tyrone Farrugia opened the account on the quarter hour when he headed in a Cassar free kick from the left. And four minutes later, after a Woods shot had surprised keeper Cassar who allowed the ball to hit the foot of the post, Farrugia was left with the easy task to tap in the loose ball.

On 21 minutes, Farrugia slightly deflected the ball in on an insidious Cassar corner to claim a hat-trick and practically secure the points for Floriana.

Tarxien were badly hit by the absences of the suspended Manuel Caruana, Justin Grioli and Daniel Bueno although after Floriana’s opening goal, they twice went close to equalizing through their most dangerous player Cristiano Rodriguez.

The Brazilian ran down the right flank and unleashed a powerful shot but the Floriana keeper Saidi just tipped the ball over the bar.

Then, Pacheco’s corner was missed by all and sundry only for Rodriguez to thump his shot against the bar.

But Floriana managed to score their fourth on 32 minutes. The danger again came from Cassar, whose cross fell to Nwoke, back in the Floriana side after injury, and as the keeper failed to hold his shot, Dragamir Draganov applied the final touch on the loose ball.

Tarxien, who put in Sergio Hili for Calabretta, were handed a lifeline three minutes into the second period. The referee noted a Micallef push on Rodriguez inside the area and awarded the penalty which Sergio Pacheco shot at the top corner.

But that served little purpose as Floriana soon regrouped and, ten minutes later, Pablo Doffo scored the match’s best goal with a left foot shot at the top corner from outside the area to restore a four-goal lead.

With the outcome already settled and Tarxien resigned to their fate, as well as the wet surface rendered totally unplayable, there remained little noteworthy episodes. A Farrugia header on a Cassar free kick demanded a smart save into a corner by keeper Cassar before late efforts by the same Floriana defender and Woods were again held out by the Tarxien custodian to save his side from further derision.