Tarxien R. 0
Floriana 4
Tarxien R.
R. Briffa
M. Botta
T. Veronese
D. Mambouana
B. Muscat
G. Camilleri
A. Andrejic (M. Farrugia 87)
M. Stanojevic (N. Portelli 78)
D. Santos Da Hora (D. Vassallo 62)
M. Gomez
L. Brincat
Floriana
I. Apkan
E. Ruiz
D. Venancio
K. Keqi (J. Busuttil 70)
U. Arias (C. Borg 62)
S. D'Agostino (B. Sciberras 79)
J. Pisani
M. Garcia
A. Cini
R. Camenzuli
T. Fonseca
Referee: Emm. Grech
Asst refs: D. Stankovic, D. Spencer
4th official: S. Pace
Scorers: T. Fonseca 14, K. Keqi 37, D. Venancio 37, M. Garcia 67,
Yellow cards: D. Santos Da Hora 55,
BOV Player of the match: S. D'Agostino.
TMI Top 3: 1. K. Keqi, 2. S. D'Agostino, 3. D. Venancio.
Attendance: 396
Floriana made sure of staying at the top of the Premier League when they easily overcame a feeble challenge from bottom club Tarxien Rainbows 4-0 yesterday evening.
The Greens scored three times in the first half through Tiago Fonseca, Kristian Keqi and Diego Venancio to establish a very comfortable cushion. Matias Garcia added another one for good measure midway through the second half.
As the Valletta-Gzira match was still in progress, the Greens were temporarily on top with 38 points. Tarxien remained with just 4 points from 19 matches.
The Greens dominated the first half never allowing their luckless opponents to have a pot at goal, so much so that goalie Akpan only touched the ball from passes by his own team-mates.
It was obvious that Floriana were determined to leave their recent past (two defeats and a draw from their last three matches) behind them as they launched one attack after another on the Rainbows fort which crumbled under their pressure.
Tarxien could not offer any resistance against the thrusts of Keqi, Venancio and D'Agostino who provided the Greens with full control of the proceedings.
In the second half, the Rainbows made a better effort as Floriana slowed down their rhythm, but they were still playing second fiddle to the superior Greens.
But at least, before the end, they had two efforts by Andrejic who was denied by Floriana goalie Akpan on both occasions.
The Greens took the initiative right from the first whistle and on eight minutes, they went close through Keqi who tested goalie Briffa seriously, but the latter was equal to the task as he dived sideways to palm the ball away.
Soon after, the same Keqi was close to scoring again as he nicely flicked a Camenzuli cross, only to see the ball passing close to the left upright.
The Greens continued to dominate and it was no surprise that they eventually took the lead on the 14th minute through Tiago Fonseca who advanced on a brilliant D'Agostino through pass to beat Briffa with a low shot.
The Greens missed a good chance to increase their lead in the 21st minute, when after a melee in the Tarxien area, D'Agostino sent his effort just wide of the left upright.
The Greens scored a second goal in the 30th minute when Keqi beat Briffa with a low shot from a difficult angle.
Five minutes later, as Floriana insisted, D'Agostino had another effort blocked in two attempts by goalie Briffa.
Soon after, Keqi set Garcia on the right flank, the latter's cross went to D'Agostino who fired the ball well over the bar from an ideal position.
Floriana had a goal disallowed in the 36th minute, but a few moments later, Diego Venancio made it 3-0 with a freekick from around 35 metres, the ball bouncing awkwardly in front of goalie Briffa before ending at the back of the net.
Floriana's first effort towards goal in the second half arrived on 64 minutes. It was a shot by substitute Clyde Borg which went over the bar.
The Greens had another Keqi goal disallowed for an offside infringement before the score became 4-0 in the 67th minute as Garcia fired a great humdinger from the edge of the area which completely beat the hapless Briffa.
Tarxien were more adventurous in the second half and finally managed a shot at goal in the 70th minute, but Andrejic's fine effort was brilliantly saved by the diving Akpan.
Tarxien had another Andrejic effort on 84 minutes, but the onrushing Akpan denied him by blocking his shot.