Floriana 1
Tarxien R 0
Andre Grabowski scored the all important goal early in the second half that gave Floriana victory over troubled Tarxien Rainbows in a match that was always likely to provide few openings.
Floriana lacked two first-choice forwards in the likes of Christian Caruana and Ivan Woods but raised their game to register their third consecutive win that leaves them into third place, six points clear of Birkirkara and Qormi.
This defeat leaves Tarxien languishing in the bottom half of the table. Already without the suspended Suguino, Tarxien’s task became laborious from the start as they were forced to make two substitutions before the half hour. After only two minutes, Bueno injured his ankle following a tackle and on 25 minutes Giglio also made way for Sadowski. They moved Anonam in attack, supported by Carabott and Pulo.
That gave Floriana slightly the edge in the first half. John Mintoff was pivotal and Grabowski ever predatory as the Greens moved forward with fluency.
On 22 minutes, following good work by Grabowski on the left, Floriana looked menacing when his low cross fell to the unmarked Darmanin whose shot on the turn went over.
Again Darmanin headed Mintoff’s cross wide and the next header by the Floriana forward, on another Pisani cross, lacked the required punch.
That kept Tarxien in the match although they rarely ventured into enemy territory.
Luckily, the second half brightened a bit, thanks to Tarxien’s more attacking intent.
Carbott managed to put his head to Pulo’s cross but keeper Bartolo saved.
Floriana were still charged up though and made the breakthrough on 52 minutes. Andre Grabowski, put clear by Mintoff, lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper Cassar and shrugged off the challenge of Pereira before knocking the ball over the goal line.
Floriana kept up the pressure. The good delivery of wide player Mintoff, provided Darmanin with optimum service. The latter put a header narrowly off target and then had a second saved by keeper Cassar.
But when Floriana’s second goal did not follow, Tarxien summoned some effort as they probed for an equaliser. On 65 minutes, Grioli’s powerful free kick was missed by everybody and keeper Bartolo did well to hold out.
Ten minutes later, on Anonam’s cross, Carabott headed straight on the keeper. Carabott was Tarxien’s third injured player in the match and was substituted by Warren Zerafa after colliding with the Floriana keeper.
The final minutes reserved some more excitement. Pereira hit his free kick against the wall and the Tarxien keeper nearly lost the loose ball to Darmanin outside the area. Substitute Farrugia put his effort from midfield slightly wide.
On the stroke of time, keeper Cassar saved his side from further derision as he superbly turned Cassar’s exquisite free kick into a corner.
Floriana M. Bartolo, T. Paris, M. Micallef, R. Darmanin, D. Pisani, O. Bugeja, P. Doffo, J. Mintoff, A. Grabowski, C. Cassar, C. Borg (B. Farrugia)
Coach M. Woods
Tarxien R D. Cassar, C. Sammut, M. Caruana, E. Pereira, S. Giglio (S. Sadowski), A. Carabott (W. Zerafa), K. Pulo, D. Bueno (L. Galea), O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, J. Grioli
Coach P. Curmi
Referee M. Apap
Asst.refs W. Debattista, T. Debono
4th official C. Pisani
Scorer A. Grabowski 52
Yellow cards C. Borg, C. Sammut, M. Caruana
Player of the match Andre Grabowski (Floriana)
TMI top 3 1. A. Grabowski 2. J. Mintoff 3. K. Pulo
Attendance 876