Tarxien R 1

Qormi 2

By virtue of this win against Tarxien Rainbows, Qormi move at the top of the Relegation Pool and are now only one point away from mathematical salvation, with three matches still to play.

Qormi could have won by a far bigger margin. Bello-Osagie might have had a hatful as time and again he wasted chances in promising situations.

Tarxien failed to repeat their impressive performance that saw them rout Mqabba in the previous game and lacked the required determination to win this crucial match, and were on the backfoot from the time they conceded early. They remain only three points above Mqabba in the place before the bottom, embroiled in a three-team salvation struggle together with Mosta.

Qormi could not have had a more promising start when Jorge Pereira put them in front after only four minutes play. He took the ball in his stride, on Scicluna’s pass, and beat keeper Vella with an unstoppable shot from outside the area.

Buoyed by an early lead, Qormi established hegemony in midfield, where Tarxien looked second best against the industry of Joseph Farrugia, Triston Caruana, Joseph Chetcuti and Matthew Bartolo.

De Castro was always Tarxien’s most creative force, but the players around him could not provide enough incisive movement to trouble the organised Qormi rearguard. Even Bueno and Costa had been subdued to the point of invisibility.

They only tested the Qormi keeper Matthew Farrugia past the quarter hour, forced to tip Grioli’s cross shot from the right over the bar into a corner.

Apart from that, Qormi carved the half’s better chances and should have increased their lead by halftime. Pereira and Bello-Osagie combined to telling effect and Tarxien’s central defender Ryan Mintoff was always at pains against the power play of the Qormi attacking duo.

On 17 minutes Pereira was clear on Bello-Osagie pass but lofted the ball as the keeper rushed off his line.

Jorge Pereira ran inside the area and was challenged by Everton Pereira. Bello-Osagie shot the loose ball over.

Bello-Osagie kept squandering chances. Towards the half hour he was served by Pereira on the right but put his shot narrowly wide.

With halftime looming, Mintoff finally made way for Anonam but Qormi went close again on 43 minutes with a Bartolo free kick headed by Bello-Osagie and turned superbly into a corner by the Tarxien keeper.

The second half remained of poor quality as Qormi reduced their attacking frequency and failed to add to their lead, again showing profligacy in front of the Tarxien goal. At times they were frustrated by the keeper’s heroics. Vella blocked Bello-Osagie from close range, following a Chetcuti cross and Bello-Osagie again headed another Chetcuti cross over the bar.

The tackling became scrappy, and occasionally late, a sign of players off their game.

Tarxien summoned some late efforts, despite being forced to substitute the injured Carlo Mamo. Carabott failed to connect on a long Costa cross and the latter lacked co ordination as he tried to control a De Castro cross.

Tarxien were unlucky on 78 minutes when Bueno’s volley from inside the area thumped against the bar. They caused havoc with a De Castro free kick as the Qormi defence took long to connect and then Costa headed Sadowski’s cross over.

But on the stroke of full time, Qormi won a penalty after Everton Pereira felled substitute Sciberras inside the area and Triston Caruana put Qormi two up.

Deep in added time, Tarxien hit a consolation goal. Substitute Karl Pulo knocked the ball in after keeper Farrugia had repelled Costa’s header. But that was too little too late to give the Rainbows any peace of mind as yet.

Tarxien R N. Vella, C. Mamo (S. Sadowski), M. Caruana (K. Pulo), E. Pereira, A. Carabott, R. Costa, M. Tanti, D. Bueno, L. De Castro, R. Mintoff (O. Anonam), J. Grioli

Coach P. Curmi

Qormi M. Farrugia, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti (G. Chetcuti), J. Farrugia, K. Scicluna, J. Pereira (S. Wellman), K. Thackray, T. Caruana, A. Bello-Osagie (L. Sciberras), V. Kouadio

Coach S. Azzopardi

Referee A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs I. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official A. Arciola

Scorers J. Silva 4, T. Caruana 90 pen, K. Pulo 90+

Yellow cards O. Anonam

Player of the match Jorge Pereira (Qormi)

TMI top 3 1. J. Pereira 2. J. Chetcuti 3. L. De Castro