Floriana-Tarxien R 0-3

Floriana: D. Hanford, I. Edet, S. Pisani, C. Caruana (I. Galea), I. Coronado, D. Pinheiro de Sousa (R. Emeka), J. Xerri, C. Borg, J. Borg (A. Scicluna), G. Muir, S. Borg.

Tarxien R.: N. Vella, C. Mamo, M. Caruana, F. Lopez Alcantara, L. Concalves de Silva (S. Sadowski), D. Toure, M. Ciantar (K. Pulo), R. Sammut, C. Menendez Hevia, D. Mariano Bueno, J. Mifsud.

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann.

Asst refs: J. Spiteri, D. Casatillo.

4th official: A. Arciola.

Scorers: M. Ciantar 2, D. Mariano Bueno,

Yellow cards: C. Menendes Hevia, M. Ciantar, S. Pisani, M. Caruana, D. Pinheiro de Sousa, R. Emeka,

Player of the match: M. Ciantar

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Ciantar, 2. I. Coronado, 3. D. Mariano Bueno.

Relegation Pool leaders were brought down to earth yesterday by Tarxien Rainbows who obtained three most precious points in their quest to avoid relegation.

It was a personal triumph for Miguel Ciantar who inspired his team to a fine win as he scored two splendid goals to down the Greens.

Despite the defeat Floriana remain on top with 17 points, but Tarxien have made a significant move upwards and now have 15 points – closer to safety.

Floriana were a huge disappointment yesterday. Despite a good start and the good form of their Brazilian Igor Coronado, they failed to leave a good impression. This was the first defeat since Italian Riccardo Gaucci took over the Greens’ reins a few weeks ago.

Tarxien had Bonnici and Santos Silva suspended, but Lopez Alcantara, Concalves de Silva and Ciantar were returning to the side.

In the first half, after a strong start by the Greens, play became balanced and Tarxien improved a lot especially after Miguel Ciantar scored a gem of a goal with which they led at the interval.

On one hand, Demba Toure and Daniel Mariano Bueno combined well with Miguel Ciantar for the Rainbows, while Igor Coronado was easily the most dangerous player for Floriana.

On the sixth minute, Coronado bustled his way into the Tarxien area, but his final effort was blocked.

Soon after, it was Ibok Edet who went close for Floriana – his cross-shot landed on the crossbar before going dead.

But it was Tarxien who broke the deadlock on the 17th minute. After a solo action, Miguel Ciantar fired home a fine dipper from the edge of the area beating Hanford all ends up.

And six minutes later, they went close to adding a second goal. It was Mariano Bueno who set Miguel Ciantar whose fine effort from the edge of the area just missed the post.

At the other end, on 29 minutes, a long distance shot from Jonathan Xerri sailed harmlessly over the bar.

On 38 minutes, a fine intervention by Alcantara on the advancing Coronado avoided an awkward situation for the Rainbows.

In added time, just before the interval whistle, it was Nicholas Vella who saved the result for the Rainbows diving sideways to turn to corner a shot by Coronado.

At the start of the second half, it was Ciantar again who tested Hanford seriously with a 20-metre shot but the Floriana custodian was not surprised.

It was just a prelude to the second goal. This time it was Demba Toure who crossed from the right for Daniel Mariano Bueno to find the net with a good header.

On 59 minutes, Floriana had a goal by Coronado disallowed for an offside infringement after a Christian Caruana shot was only partially saved by Vella.

With nine minutes to go, Tarxien made sure of the three points when Miguel Ciantar rounded a player before beating Hanford with an angled shot from the edge of the area.

Till the end, Floriana tried to at least score a consolation goal but the Rainbows held on for a well deserved victory.