Tarxien Rainbows 0
Floriana 2
Muir 37; Diogo 80;

Club president Riccardo Gaucci must have been delighted that the changes at the helm of the Floriana FC team were vindicated as the Greens produced the right response at the end of a turbulent week prompted by their lame showing against Vittoriosa Stars.

With Vittoriosa and Qormi both winning their matches, Floriana and Tarxien could hardly afford to drop points from this clash. As things developed, Tarxien are now deeply embroiled in the relegation mire as they’re just one point above the red zone with the bottom-six standings changing every week.

Solid at the back and in midfield, Floriana got more wind to their sails by the early red card of Tarxien skipper Manuel Caruana. However, they could only translate their numerical advantage into a dominant display after the Rainbows finished with nine men seven minutes after the restart.

Giovanni Tedesco, Floriana’s newly-appointed coach, sprung several surprises in his starting line-up, omitting Daniel Hanford and Jonathan Xerri and handing a rare start to second-choice goalkeeper Sean Mintoff and Rodrigo Felix Aguiar.

Defender Gary Muir was moved in midfield and assigned screening duties in front of the back four with Brooke Farrugia and Joseph Borg behind the attacking trio of Diogo, Steve Pisani and Igor Coronado.

Tarxien’s Clive Mizzi made three changes to the side that lost against Naxxar Lions with Carlo Mamo drafted back in the starting XI after serving suspension.

Luca Martinelli and Steven Bonnici replaced Ryan Sammut and Miguel Ciantar.

A tame opening had Jorge testing waters with a low shot that was neutralised by Mintoff on 11 minutes.

Tarxien’s methodic and controlled play was restricting the Greens in their own half but almost midway through the first period Muir’s free-kick was met by Joseph Borg whose header eluded keeper Nicholas Vella but went past the far post.

On the half hour mark, Jorge gave the illusion of a goal as his free-kick flashed against the side-netting.

The game remained tight with both teams careful, not giving away an extra inch to each other.

On 36 minutes, the match produced its first defining moment when referee Glen Tonna awarded Floriana a penalty after Pisani went down under the challenge of Caruana following an aerial duel inside the box.

The Tarxien player was given his marching orders and Muir sent Nicky Vella the wrong way from the spot-kick.

With his team down to 10 men, Mizzi effected his first substitution at half-time, Lucas replacing Fernando Lopes as he modified his team to a 4-3-2 module with Daniel Mariano Bueno and Demba Toure leading the attack.

But the signs at the start of the second half were hardly encouraging for the Rainbows as Lucas’s contribution only lasted seven minutes as he was sent off for retaliation.

The referee did not hesitate to show him a straight red card following a tussle with Aguiar that developed after the Brazilian midfielder had suffered a foul.

Floriana, inevitably, stepped up their game significantly.

Farrugia embarked on a mazy run on the right wing and his cross was met by Coronado whose effort ended just over the bar.

On 78 minutes, Mamo’s free-kick finished just wide. Hardly two minutes passed and Floriana sealed the issue.

Breaking clear on the counter, Coronado delivered a perfect centre towards Diogo who tapped home at the near post.

Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella-6, C. Mamo-6.5, M. Caruana, F. Lopez-5.5 (46 Lucas), D. Toure-5.5, S. Bonnici-5, C. Hevia-6 (80 R. Sammut), D.M. Bueno-5, J. Mifsud-5, Jorge-6.5, L. Martinelli-5.5 (75 K. Pulo).

Floriana
S. Mintoff-6, A. Scicluna-6.5, I. Edet-7, S. Pisani-6 (88 D. Baldacchino), I. Coronado-6, Diogo-5.5, S. Borg-5.5, J. Borg-6, G. Muir-7.5, B. Farrugia-5.5 (73 E. Briffa), R. Aguiar-6.5.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards: Scicluna; Lopez; Coronado; Muir; Martinelli; Farrugia; Ibok;Mintoff.

Red cards: Manuel Caruana (T) 36; Lucas (T) 52.

BOV player of the match: Gary Muir (Floriana).

Standings