Tarxien 1
Pulo 90;
Qormi 2
Jorginho 5; Caruana 89 pen;
Tarxien approached this match in high spirits as last week’s five-goal thumping of Mqabba had pulled them clear of the red zone.
So efficient was the side on that occasion that few will have blamed their fans for thinking that Tarxien’s fight against the drop was over and the mauling of Mqabba would carry Patrick Curmi’s team to another positive result against Qormi.
Stephen Azzopardi and his troops had other plans, however.
Inspired by the surging runs of Jorginho and Abubakar Bello-Osagie, Qormi yesterday tore into the Tarxien defence and had it not been for some sloppy finishing from their forwards, the Yellow-Blacks could have easily coasted to a victory of wider proportions.
These three points should guarantee Qormi their Premier League status as they are nine points clear of second-bottom Mqabba with only three matches to go.
Tarxien remain 10th with 21 points, level with Mosta who they meet in an almost decisive clash next Friday. Anything but three points from that match could mean serious trouble for these two struggling teams as Mqabba will be doing their utmost to beat the already-doomed Marsaxlokk on Sunday to cut the deficit.
Qormi could not have hoped for a better start as, after only five minutes, they were already a goal ahead. Defender Kenneth Scicluna picked Jorginho in the middle of the park and the Brazilian burst past two Tarxien defenders before unleashing a powerful drive that gave Tarxien goalkeeper Nicky Vella no chance.
Tarxien were jaded and their first response arrived on 16 minutes when Justin Grioli’s cross-shot almost deceived Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia who just managed to tip the ball over the bar.
A minute later Jorginho again showed great pace when surging into the opponents’ half but, after exchanging passes with Bello-Osagie, he miscued his shot with only Vella to beat.
Qormi remained the more dangerous side and on 23 minutes Bello-Osagie tried to move past Everton but the Tarxien defender did well to halt his run, the ball fell into the path of Jorginho whose shot lacked precision.
The pace of the Qormi forwards was clearly hurting the Rainbows and on 28 minutes Jorginho put Bello-Osagie through but the Nigerian failed to hit the target.
Tarxien finally threatened on 40 minutes when Bueno picked Ricardo whose grounder was stopped by Farrugia.
Strangely, Curmi opted for his first substitution four minutes from the break when he withdrew Ryan Mintoff and roped in Orosco Anonam as keeper Vella again needed to be at his best to keep out Bello-Osagie’s dipping header from a Jorginho free-kick.
Qormi maintained the upperhand after the break and Bello-Osagie should have doubled his team’s tally when he was put through by Chetcuti but his shot was dealt with expertly by Vella.
On 56 minutes, the Rainbows had a glorious chance to go level when Ricardo sent an inviting ball into the Qormi box and the unmarked Carabott failed to make contact and the chance was lost.
Curmi was forced to make his second change on 65 minutes when wing-back Carlo Mamo limped out injured. He was replaced by Steve Sadowski.
Qormi still ran the show but were unable to capitalise on more open chances.
On 69 minutes, Bello-Osagie was again the culprit when he outsmarted his marker but headed over a Jorginho centre.
Tarxien almost stunned Qormi with an equaliser. Bueno’s shot beat Farrugia but the ball came off the bar.
Curmi’s men suddenly started to up their game in search of an equaliser and nine minutes from time Sadowski crossed the ball into the path of Ricardo who headed over.
Tarxien’s hopes, however, received a nosedive a minute from time as substitute Luke Sciberras was brought down in the Tarxien box by Everton and a penalty was given.
Triston Caruana drilled the ball past Vella from the spot.
There was still time for Tarxien to pull a goal back when Farrugia failed to hold a Ricardo effort and in came Karl Pulo, another substitute, to stab the ball home.
But his goal came too late as the ref’s final whistle followed soon after.
Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella-6.5, C. Mamo-5.5 (65 S. Sadowski-6), M. Caruana-6 (82 K. Pulo), Everton-6, A. Carabott-5, Ricardo-6, M. Tanti-5, D. Bueno-6, L. De Castro-6, R. Mintoff-5 (41 O. Anonam-6), J. Grioli-6.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, R. Sammut-6.5, M. Bartolo-6, J. Chetcuti-6.5 (90 G. Chircop), J. Farrugia-6, K. Scicluna-6.5, Jorginho-7 (87 S. Wellman), K. Thackray-6, T. Caruana-6.5, A. Bello-Osagie-6.5 (79 L. Sciberras), V. Kouadio-6.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow card: Anonam.
BOV player of the match: Jorginho (Qormi).