Floriana-Tarxien 1-2

Floriana: D. Hanford, G. Muir, S. Eboh (C. Caruana), I. Edet, S. Borg, S. Pisani (B. Farrugia), J. Borg, C. Borg, D. Bogdanovic, I. Coronado, D. Pinheiro de Sousa.

Tarxien R.: N. Vella, C. Mamo, M. Caruana, F. Lopes Alcantara, A. Agius (S. Sadowski), L. Martinelli, R. Calheira Seara (K. Pulo), M. Ciantar (R. Sammut), J. Santos Silva, J. Mifsud, S. Bonnici.

Referee: M. Spiteri.

Asst refs: C. Francalanza, Y. Spiteri

4th official: P. Farrugia.

Scorers: L. Martinelli, R. Calheira Seara, D. Pinheiro de Sousa

Yellow cards: C. Borg, F. Lopes Alcantara, S. Eboh, C. Mamo, E. Edet, R. Calheira Seara, S. Sadowski

Player of the match: N. Vella

TMI Top 3: 1. N. Vella, 2. I. Coronado, 3. C. Mamo

Attendance: 424

Floriana suffered a setback to their hopes of lowering their deficit of five points as they lost their match against Tarxien Rainbows by the odd goal in three.

After yesterday’s defeat they remain at the bottom of the standings on minus five points.

Nicholas Vella was Tarxien’s hero as he defied the Greens on several occasions. No surprise that he was named Player of the Match.

In the first half, the Greens had a good start. But after failing in their quest to score an early goal, they were shocked by a goal from Tarxien which provided the Rainbows with their first half lead.

The Rainbows were forced to defend for long stretches but they defended stoutly and in an organised manner but apart from some early efforts, the greens rarely troubled goalie Vella.

In the second half, Floriana pressed more in search of an equalizer and they seemed to be more organized than in the first half, but once again, it was the Rainbows who struck with a second goal that almost killed all the greens’ hopes.

But a goal soon afterwards gave fresh hopes to the Greens and they again surged forward in search of at least a point.

Their hopes were dashed to the ground as Tarxien closed all the gaps at the back and managed to retain their slender lead till the end.

Floriana had a fiery start as they swept into attack from the first whistle and Clyde Borg had a good shot going wide.

Then from a J. Borg cross, Diogo Pinheiro saw his flick being blocked by the goalie. And moments later, Daniel Bogdanovic had a freekick saved on deck by Nicholas Vella.

But it was Tarxien who scored in their first real attack on 13 minutes. Luca Martinelli advanced on the left into the Greens’ penalty area, and hit home a low shot that beat Hanford.

Floriana, however, maintained the initiative, and Bogdanovic had a goal disallowed for an offside infringement on 26 minutes while in the 35th minute, it was Coronado who set Pisani, only for the latter’s shot to pass across goal.

On the 39th minute, Carlo Mamo set Ronaille Calheira in the area, but the latter’s effort was magnificently turned to corner by Hanford.

Five minutes later, Pinheira again tested Vella, but the Tarxien goalie turned to corner.

Floriana swiftly surged into attack in the second half.

On 53 minutes, they threatened seriously when Bogdanovic had a very good run down the left flank. He then passed to Coronado who went round an opponent before firing a good shot from the edge of the area. But Tarxien goalie Nicholas Vella covered himself with glory diving sideways to palm the ball wide.

Three minutes later, it was Steve Pisani who lifted the ball into the area, but Coronado’s header went over.

On the 65th minute, Tarxien could have added a second goal when Martinelli crossed into the area and Calheira failed to make contact in front of goal.

The striker, however, made amends on the 71st minute when he received the ball on the edge of the area, went past an opponent and fired a low shot that hit the upright before ending at the far end in the net.

Floriana were back in contention soon after as they reduced the deficit in the 76th minute. From a Coronado cross, it was Diogo Pinheiro de Sousa who first timed home past a forest of feet.

Two minutes later, they almost equalized when Vella had to dive sideways to save a Bogdanovic effort.

On the 87th minute, in a swift counterattack, Tarxien’s Luca Martinelli hit wide from a good scoring position.