Effiong double revives Qormi's survival hopes

Tarxien Rainbows 0
Qormi 3
Effiong 56, 69; Chetcuti 75

Alfred Effiong revived Qormi's hopes of prolonging their stay in the top flight after the Nigerian struck a quick brace in the second half to lead his team to a priceless victory over Tarxien Rainbows yesterday.

It was a merited success for Qormi who clearly showed more hunger to win the match compared to the Rainbows.

Jesmond Zerafa's men began to apply the pressure on Tarxien's backline from the start. Captain Joseph Farrugia and Joseph Chetcuti were very much in the thick of the action for Qormi, providing a constant supply to Effiong who did not disappoint as he took his tally to six goals in the last three matches.

Thanks to this win, Qormi have now leapfrogged Msida in the standings and joined the Rainbows on 14 points, one behind Ħamrun Spartans who face the Saints this afternoon.

Tarxien defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino missed yesterday's match due to suspension.

Qormi coach Zerafa was without Adrian Ciantar, also suspended, but Brazilian striker Josivan Da Silva was declared fit to start up front alongside Effiong.

The match had a frantic start. Inside the opening minute, Tarxien striker Daniel Mariano Bueno had stormed into the area but his angled drive flew just wide.

Qormi's response arrived three minutes later when Paul Camilleri floated a dipping cross into the penalty area but Chetcuti headed just over.

The game remained balanced and on 18 minutes, the woodwork denied the Rainbows an opener when Luke Vella Critien's low drive hit the upright with Matthew Farrugia beaten.

At the other end, Effiong was first to Da Silva's cross but the Nigerian forward saw his header pushed away to safety by the alert Anthony Curmi, the Tarxien goalkeeper.

Midway into the first half, Zerafa was forced to make his first substitution as Clifton Ciantar limped off injured. He was replaced by Roderick Sammut.

Six minutes later, Massimo Grima's through-ball found Farrugia in ample space inside the box. The Qormi skipper looked odds-on to score but his thumping drive was brilliantly pushed away by Curmi.

Qormi showed the better ideas in the first half but the Rainbows were rarely troubled. The latter relied on quick forays by Bueno and Warren Chircop to try and open up Qormi but the stalemate prevailed until the end of the first half.

It was Qormi who drew first blood in their first attack of the second half. The clock marked 56 minutes gone when Effiong pounced on the hesitant defending of Ramon Schembri to run into the area and plant the ball past the onrushing Curmi.

The Nigerian was at it again two minutes later when he sped past two Tarxien defenders but his rising shot finished just over.

Effiong was now tormenting Tarxien and on the hour, the former Ħamrun forward anticipated his marker to meet a Chetcuti cross but his header flashed just wide.

Tarxien coach Noel Coleiro effected his first change on 64 minutes when bringing on Manuel Caruana for Mark Tanti.

Any hopes Tarxien had of gaining something from this match were all but extinguished on 69 minutes when midfielder Keith Fenech sent a swerving cross in the area and Effiong was first to react. His dipping header flew into the far corner of the net.

The Yellow-Blacks sealed their emphatic victory 15 minutes from time when Chetcuti showed excellent footwork as he swept past two defenders before firing a shot beyond Curmi's reach.

Chetcuti should have scored again six minutes from time when the Qormi winger received a through-pass from Farrugia but he was denied by Curmi.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Curmi-5.5, S. Sadowski-5.5 ('87 M. Pisani), E. De Lima-5, W. Chircop-5 ('75 J. Shead), M. Tanti-5 ('64 M. Caruana-5), A. Decesare-6, R. Schembri-4, D. Bueno-5, L. Vella Critien-5, D. Dos Santos-5.5, D. Camilleri-5.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, C. Ciantar ('23 R. Sammut-6.5), R. Dos Santos-7, M. Grima-5.5, K. Fenech-6.5, A. Effiong-8, J. Chetcuti-7, J. Farrugia-7 ('88 G. Chircop), M. Borg-6, J. Da Silva-6.5 ('81 S. Wellman), P. Camilleri-6.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Schembri; De Lima; Fenech.

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