Tarxien R. -Qormi          4-0

Tarxien R.: N. Vella, C. Mamo, L. Martinelli (M. Ciantar), L. Congalves de Silva (K. Pulo), D. Toure, R. Sammut, C. Menendez Hevia (W. Barbosa), D. Mariano Bueno, J. Mifsud, S. Bonnici, J. Santos Silva.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, R. Sammut, E. Vella, G. Gianola, D. PIsani, S. Quinteri (T. Caruana), R. Bajada, G. da Silva, L. Grech (D. Pirotta), A. Effiong, J. Pereira da Silva.        

Referee: A. Azzopardi

Asst refs: E. Spiteri, A. Borg Cardona

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: C. Mamo, L. Congalves Hevia, D. Mariano Bueno, R. Sammut (own goal)

Yellow cards: G. Gianola, J. Mifsud, A. Effiong, L. Martinelli, C. Mamo, J. Pereira da Silva, D. Mariano Bueno,

Player of the match: D. Toure.

TMI Top 3: 1. D. Toure, 2. D. Mariano Bueno, 3. C. Mamo.

Tarxien Rainbows moved closer to safety after beating Qormi by three clear goals yesterday.

The victory sent them temporarily to the top of the Relegation Pool standings on 21 points, three ahead of Floriana, though the latter have today’s match against bottom placed Rabat in hand.

Qormi remain in third place with 17 points.

The Rainbows were definitely a better outfit, especially in the second half when they made the most of Qormi’s lapses at the back, scoring three goals without reply to ascertain themselves of all the three points.

In the first half, it was a balanced affair with Tarxien, perhaps, creating the best scoring opportunities.

After a quiet start in which both teams sized up each other, it was Tarxien who broke the deadlock and went on to keep that slender advantage till the end of the half.

All in all, it was a deserved lead for the Rainbows who should have scored more goals especially near the end of the first period.

On their part, Qormi did not stare at their opponents either. They also had their fair share of goal scoring chances, but with Alfred Effiong and Jorge Pereira da Silva well under control, they were found wanting in their conclusions.

In the second half, the match at fiurst followed the same pattern of the first half, but with Qormi more concerned about attacking in search of an equaliser, they left their backdoor open and Tarxien found it easier to penetrate, even before adding a second goal just after the hour.

After that, the match had no further story as the Rainbows continued to dominate, scoring two further goals in the process.

After a quiet start, it was Qormi who went close to opening the score when after a good combination between Leighton Grech and Duncan Pisani, the latter crossed perfectly for Alfred Effiong only for the latter to see his fine first timer just missing the upright.

But it was Tarxien who broke the deadlock on the 19th minute. Mariano Bueno was floored just outside the area and from the resultant freekick, Carlo Mamo’s curling shot gave Matthew Farrugia no chance.

On the 21st minute, Tarxien goalie Nicki Fqarrugia rushed out of his charge to anticipate Leighton Grech.

On the 27th minute, it was Gianola who avoided an awkward situation for Qormi as he cleared in extremis to corner after Bueno had advanced into the area when set beautifully by Demba Toure.

In the 32nd minute, Qormi went close to an equaliser when following a Quinteri freekick, an Effiong header almost deceived goalie Vella, who somehow managed to save.

Four minutes later, at the other end, Toure again set Bueno in the Qormi area, but the striker tried a dribble too much around goalie Farrugia and his cross from an acute angle found no takers.

In the 42nd minute, Qormi also had a good chance as Grech advanced on a good pass from Da Silva, but his low shot was well saved by Vella.

Just before the interval, Tarxien should have added a second goal when Da Silva set Ryan Sammut, completely unmarked on the right flank of the Qormi area, but goalie Farrugia blocked his effort.

And in added time, it was Jorge Santos Silva who missed a glaring opportunity, failing to conclude from one metre following a low cross from Toure.

At the start of the second half, Mariano Bueno advanced into the Qormi area, but his shot passed harmlessly across goal.

In the 55th minute, Demba Toure missed another good chance for Tarxien when following a good cross by Santos Silva, he lifted the ball well over the bar from three metres.

Tarxien doubled their lead on 64 minutes. It was Demba Toure who advanced on the right to cross low for Lucas Congalves Hevia to hit home past a helpless Farrugia.

And on 74 minutes, in another fine move, Congalves squared low for Toure to find Mamo only for the latter’s effort being turned to corner with great difficulty by Farrugia.

Five minutes later, it was Daniel Mariano Bueno who scored a third goal in the 79th minute when he hit home following a good pass from Jorge Santos Silva.

In the 84th minute, as Tarxien maintained the upper hand, Toure hit well over the bar following a good cross by Mamo.

The score became 4-0 in added time when substitute Pulo crossed low into the Qormi goalmouth and Sammut, in an effort to clear, turned the ball into his own net.