Qormi’s fightback stuns Rainbows

Qormi 2
Frendo 65; Bello Osagie 74;
Tarxien Rainbows 1
Rodrigues 18;

Qormi scored twice after the interval to register their second Premier League win of the season at the expense of Tarxien Rainbows in an action-packed match yesterday.

The Rainbows had made a strong start when Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues put them ahead after only 18 minutes and they might have thought they would go on to dominate Qormi who were struggling to fire.

Instead, after a flurry of chances for both sides, Qormi sparked into life after the break and turned tables on their opponents.

It had seemed that one of the Premier League’s old guard rather than one of its new faces was going to be the key influence on the match.

The rejuvenated Daniel Mariano Bueno, in his second spell at Tarxien, led the line brilliantly for the Rainbows but squandered a number of chances to put the match beyond his opponents.

On the contrary, Abubakar Bello Osagie started this match in a subdued mood – as did his team-mates – but once he found his rhythm he charged his side’s second half surge.

After a worrying first few minutes, where passes were pumped aimlessly forward, both teams started to offer glimpses of quality.

It was Qormi who threatened first when a curled effort by Bello Osagie rippled the Tarxien side-netting.

Tarxien began to settle and only some smart thinking from Roderick Sammut, who dropped back on the line to clear Justin Grioli’s header, prevented the Rainbows from taking the lead after seven minutes.

The Rainbows looked more effective with the ball especially through Cristiano who first hit the side netting and then steered a bullet header only to see Sammut hacking the ball clear.

The Rainbows took the lead on 18 minutes when Cristiano controlled a long pass from Manuel Caruana, rounded the onrushing Matthew Farrugia before stroking the ball into the empty net.

Qormi carried little attacking threat and in their only half chance of the opening period, Joseph Farrugia’s free-kick sailed over the bar.

But Stephen Azzopardi’s side gave a better account of themselves after the break following what was likely to have been a stern talk from their coach.

The former Sliema coach brought on Joseph Chetcuti to give them extra presence upfront but it was their defence that was exposed on 46 minutes, the excellent Bueno struck the foot of the post with a rasping drive after running across his man.

But a fast break from Qormi gave Kosta Bjedov two chances to test David Cassar and the goalkeeper was equal to the challenge.

But from the ensuing corner on 64 minutes, Farrugia set up the lurking Cleaven Frendo in the box who turned and scored.

With the game stretched, Qormi surged forward and Matthew Bartolo made another dazzling run on the right before crossing the ball towards Bello Osagie who volleyed the ball into the roof of the net.

Now it was end-to-end stuff and the next chance fell once again to Bueno but was denied by Farrugia’s superb block, and the rebound fell into the path of Grioli who stung the keeper’s palms at the near post.

The last few minutes saw Coleiro’s men desperately trying to force an equaliser but they were denied by Farrugia who produced a string of smart saves to keep the opponents at bay.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-7, C. Frendo-6.5 (83 K. Fenech), G. Mallia-6.5, R. Sammut-7, K. Bjedov-6, A. Bello Osagie-6.5 (90 G Buttigieg), V. Da Silva-5 (46 J. Chetcuti-5), M. Bartolo-6.5, S. Giglio-5, J. Farrugia-6.5, J. Vandelannoite-6.5.

Tarxien
A. Curmi (12 D. Cassar-6), S. Sadowski-5, M. Caruana-5, E. Pereira-6, R. Costa-5 (45 Pacheco de Oliveria-5), C. dos Santos Rodrigues-6, D. Bueno-6.5, L. Vella Critien-5 (76 G. Calabretta), O. Anonam-6, R. Mintoff-5, J. Grioli-6.5.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Bello Osagie, Mintoff, Frendo.

BOV player of the match: Abubakar Bello Osagie (Qormi).