Qormi bounce back

Qormi 1 Tarxien Rainbows 0

Qormi bounced back from their shock defeat against Marsaxlokk with a good performance against Tarxien Rainbows that resulted in a narrow 1-o victory that cemented their position at the top of the Relegation pool.

A superb free-kick by Jorginho six minutes from time was enough to settle a close game that saw good quality from either side but little clear-cut chances.

The Brazilian curled in a majestic 25-metre on 83 minutes, giving the Tarxien goalkeeper no chance.

The Rainbows started brightly, mounting plenty of pressure on the Qormi's goal. De Castro's raking shot cum cross from the right flashed the far post with Daniel Mariano Bueno arriving late to push the ball over the line in the 10 minute.

But Qormi settled soon and they forged a succession of chances, Joseph Chetcuti smashed the ball over the bar when he could have just tapped it in after 15 minutes. Seven minutes later, Jorginho fired straight at Tarxien goalkeeper from 25 metres out.

Kris Thackray's pace down the Rainbow's right created havoc with a mazy run, swerving to avoid three Tarxien players intent on ending his run in any way possible before his cross in the box found no takers.

Tarxien were dealt a blow soon after when Anonam was forced off through injury to be replaced by Pulo, dropping Mamo in the back four.

In the opening minutes of the second period, Ricardo's sweeping pass picked out the advancing Bueno on the right-hand side, with the latter unleashing a pile-driver that required Vella to produce a smart save to push away. From the ensuing corner, Ricardo headed again the ball into the path of Bueno to hit it out.

In the 63rd minute, Farrugia swooped at the far post, connecting to Jorginho's swinger with an exquisite sideways scissor-kick, flicking the ball into the path of Chetcuti who pushed it goalwards but Ryan Mintoff headed to safety.

But seven minutes from time, Pulo sent Tristan Caruana crashing to end his venture towards the Rainbows area. The free-kick was awarded in perfect Joseph Farrugia's territory. Everybody expected the Yellows skipper to shoot, instead Jorginho responded with a beautifully curled free-kick over the wall that dipped out of Vella's reach and into the corner.

Qormi held on with relative ease to move eight points clear of the relegation zone albeit Mqabba sitting second from bottom have a game in hand.