Bueno strikes again to lift Tarxien

Qormi 1
Farrugia 39
Tarxien Rainbows 2
Bueno 16, 87

Daniel Mariano Bueno struck two well-taken goals yesterday to lead Tarxien Rainbows to a valuable win over Qormi in the opening match of the Relegation Pool.

It was a telling contribution from the Brazilian striker who swayed the balance in his team's favour with a crucial winner three minutes from time after the match had looked to be heading to a draw.

With this win the Rainbows moved out of the bottom two places of the standings for the first time in several weeks. They are one point behind Msida St Joseph and one ahead of Ħamrun Spartans. These two latter teams clash in the next Relegation Pool match.

For Qormi, this upset was a huge blow to their salvation hopes. Jesmond Zerafa's men will have to step up their game and show character in their next matches if they are to prolong their stay in the top flight by another season.

Alfred Effiong made his return for Qormi after more than three months out with a fractured foot. The Nigerian partnered Josivan Da Silva upfront. Qormi were without defender Ramon Dos Santos who was serving a one-match ban.

Noel Coleiro, the Tarxien coach, had Bueno and Denni Rocha Dos Santos passing a late fitness test but Andrew Decesare failed to recover from a knee injury.

The opening exchanges were evenly balanced with both sides trying to assert their dominance on the field of play but there was a dearth of ideas and constructive football with the result that scoring chances were few and far in between.

That scrappy patch was interrupted on 16 minutes when the Rainbows took the lead.

Mark Tanti dribbled his way through on the right before delivering an inviting cross that was headed home by Bueno.

After that setback one expected a fierce response from Qormi but this failed to materialise as they showed little creativity in their attacking moves, opting for long balls towards the agile Effiong, yesterday under tight scrutiny from the Rainbows defenders.

On 29 minutes Bueno almost doubled Tarxien's lead but his shot was stopped by Qormi goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

Six minutes from the break, Qormi were gifted a break-through.

From a Joseph Farrugia free-kick on the left, Tarxien keeper Michael Falzon incredibly missed the ball which bounced into the back of his net.

Da Silva should have given Qormi a headstart two minutes after the interval when he was picked by Chetcuti but the Brazilian miscued his shot and the Rainbows cleared.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Effiong found himself clear following an Adrian Ciantar free-kick but his effort was blocked.

Qormi were holding an edge now and on 62 minutes Falzon dived full stretch to keep out another Farrugia free-kick.

At the other end, from a David Camilleri corner, Bueno was first to the ball but his header was stopped by Gauci. Bueno then dashed into the Qormi box and slid a dangerous centre to the unmarked Tanti who, however, was denied by a timely tackle from Roderick Sammut.

With the match heading to a draw, Bueno scored the goal that mattered most. He rifled a powerful grounder past Gauci after a perfect service from Tanti.

Qormi were jaded but Grima tried to save the match for his team in stoppage time. His shot from the distance, however, flew over the bar.

Qormi
R. Gauci-6, C. Ciantar-5.5, M. Grima-6, A. Effiong-6, J. Chetcuti-5.5, J. Farrugia-6.5, S. Tellus-5 ('46 M. Borg-6), R. Sammut-6, S. Wellman-5.5, J. Da Silva-5 ('73 K. Fenech), A. Ciantar-5 ('84 A. Debono).

Tarxien Rainbows
M. Falzon-6, S. Sadowski-6.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, E. De Lima-6, M. Tanti-6.5, R. Schembri-6, D.M. Bueno-7.5, L. Vella Critien-6, D. Rocha Dos Santos-6.5 ('90 M. Buttigieg), D. Camilleri-6, L. Galea-5 ('75 M. Caruana).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Grima, Tellus, Sammut, Galea, De Lima, Camilleri, Schembri.

BoV Player of the Match: Daniel Mariano Bueno (Tarxien Rainbows).