Clinical Qormi down luckless Rainbows

Tarxien Rainbows 0
Qormi 3
Da Silva 27; Effiong 31; Farrugia 73

Two quick goals midway through the first half paved the way for Qormi's first Premier League win of the season as they battled past Tarxien Rainbows at the National Stadium.

Although the final 3-0 scoreline might suggest that it was a comfortable afternoon for Qormi, this was not the case as they had to fight hard for the three points.

For long stretches , it was Tarxien who dictated matters but they were unable to make the most of their possession and paid dearly for that.

In fact, the match was decided in a five-minute spell in the first half during which they conceded twice and had defender Ivan Carapic sent off.

After those setbacks, Tarxien tried to hit back and created numerous scoring chances but Qormi again displayed their efficiency in front of goal when adding a third goal late on.

Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa effected three changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Hibernians in their last outing.

Reuben Gauci was preferred to Matthew Farrugia in goal while Chucks Nwoko came in for Joseph Farrugia. Anatole Debono was handed a starting role in the absence of the suspended Joseph Chetcuti.

Noel Coleiro, the Tarxien coach, named Kevin Borg in his initial XI in place of the injured Mark Tanti while Luke Vella Critien was preferred to Warren Chircop.

It was Tarxien who fashioned the first scoring chance after nine minutes when Carapic was first to a Vella Critien free-kick but his firm header flashed just wide.

Three minutes later, Mariano Bueno tested Gauci with a curling drive but the Qormi keeper easily blocked the ball.

As the minutes passed, Qormi started to get more into the picture and on 27 minutes they took the lead. Shaun Tellus won possession in midfield and quickly fed Alfred Effiong on the right channel. The Nigerian sent a low cross that was missed by Nwoko but not by Ivan Da Silva who made no mistake from routine distance.

Further misery was in store for Tarxien two minutes later when defender Carapic was shown his second yellow card for simulation in the area after he looked to have been charged down by Roderick Sammut.

Down to ten men, the Rainbows lost their tactical composure and two minutes later, Qormi doubled their lead. Effiong's pace proved too much for the Rainbows defence as the Nigerian easily placed the ball past Sean Cini.

Eight minutes from the break, Coleiro effected his first change when Lino Galea made way for Steve Sadowski.

The Rainbows were then unlucky not to pull a goal back when Rodrigo Cariaga's long-range drive came off the bar with Gauci beaten.

After the restart, Tarxien, inspired by the constant running of Cariaga and Bueno, stormed into Qormi and on 55 minutes, Andrew Decesare's shot was blocked by Gauci.

Two minutes later, it was the turn of Cariaga to test the Qormi keeper but again Gauci came out on top by palming his shot away for a corner.

Despite being a man down, the Rainbows were playing the better football and on the hour, Cariaga put Bueno through on goal but the Argentine was intercepted by Gauci.

Sensing his team's sudden ascendancy, Coleiro hauled off Borg and roped in another forward, Warren Chircop, in a bid to add more firepower to his forward line.

Twenty minutes from time, Decesare burst into the Qormi box and slid the ball past the onrushing Gauci but Sammut's providential block avoided a certain goal.

Three minutes later, however, the match was as good as over when Qormi made it 3-0. Effiong was again the creator as the Nigerian beat his marker before sending a teasing cross into the path of substitute Farrugia who had little difficulty stabbing the ball home.

Tarxien ended the match with nine men when Decesare was shown the red card for a crude tackle on Massimo Grima.

Tarxien Rainbows
S. Cini-5.5, L. Galea-4 ('37 S. Sadowski-6.5), M. Caruana-6, I. Carapic, P. Sciriha-6, A. Decesare, R. Schembri-5.5 ('78 M. Buttigieg), D. Bueno-6.5, L. Vella Critien-6, K. Borg-5.5 ('61 W. Chircop-5), R. Cariaga-7.5.

Qormi
R. Gauci-7, R. Forace-6, M. Grima-6, A. Debono-6 ('78 A. Ciantar), C. Nwoko-6 ('76 J. Farrugia), A. Effiong-7.5 ('83 C. Farrugia), R. Dos Santos-6, I. Da Silva-6, S. Tellus-6, R. Sammut-6.5, K. Fenech-6.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Yellow cards: Carapic; Debono; Sciriha; Schembri.

Red cards: Carapic (T) 29; Decesare (T) 78.

BoV Player of the match: Alfred Effiong (Qormi).

Playing today

National Stadium: BOV Premier League 7.30 p.m. Hibernians vs Valletta.

Centenaruy Stadium: Division II/III KO 6 p.m. Lija vs Siġġiewi; 8 p.m. Sta Luċija vs Kirkop.