Tarxien Rainbows 1
Bueno 23 pen;
Floriana 2
Everton 18 og; Odwong 52;
Floriana maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season after they lowered the colours of a below-par Tarxien Rainbows side last night.
It was a workmanlike display from Michael Woods’s Greens who produced an efficient display, based on constant running and incisive throughballs that gave the Rainbows little chance to stamp their authority in the match.
Floriana’s midfield engine, guided by Ivan Woods, Christian Cassar and Pablo Doffo, separated both sides perhaps as all three kept control of the proceedings for most of the match to all but annul the threat posed by Tarxien’s foreign legion.
This performance and positive result came at the right time for the Greens, particularly coach Woods who will be delighted with the efforts of his team despite the limited options he has at his disposal at the moment.
Tarxien were indeed a disjointed lot as they struggled to put up any sort of fluidity in their play with the result that strike partners Daniel Mariano Bueno and Rodrigo were given too little service to pose any danger.
This was the second successive upset for the Rainbows. Surely, they must raise their game by several notches if they are to remain a force among the top teams in the Premier League.
Coach Woods kept faith with the starting formation that saw off Mqabba in the previous outing with the exception of Thomas Paris who came on for Christian Caruana who was unfit. Nigerian goalkeeper William Amamoo, who was suspended by the club earlier this month, was back in the fray but only started on the bench.
Noel Coleiro, the Tarxien coach, also reconfirmed his starting XI from the 2-4 defeat to Valletta.
Both teams battled for supremacy early on but it was the Greens who were quick off the mark and on 18 minutes they opened the score.
Floriana were awarded a free-kick and Christian Cassar’s menacing ball was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Tarxien defender Everton.
Boris Odwong came agonisingly close to doubling Floriana’s lead on 20 minutes when the Nigerian unleashed a powerful volley from outside the area but was denied by a splendid save from Tarxien goalkeeper David Cassar.
Floriana looked in command but their lead did not last long as three minutes later the Rainbows drew level.
Bueno tried to turn past his direct marker but was upended by Floriana defender Micallef in the area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Bueno stepped up for the spot-kick to beat Manuel Bartolo with a low drive.
Both teams suddenly struggled to show any fluidity in their play and unsurprisingly they headed in for the half-time break still level at one-all.
But after the interval Floriana seemed to have stepped up a gear in search of a second goal and on 50 minutes Cassar’s inviting ball almost freed John Mintoff but the Greens winger was anticipated by onrushing goalkeeper Cassar.
However, in their next attack Floriana were not to be denied.
The clock marked 52 minutes when Woods picked Odwong with a delightful pick and the Nigerian striker hit a rasping grounder that gave Cassar no chance to stop.
Tarxien’s defensive set-up suffered a blow on the hour when Orosco Anonam limped out injured.
On 65 minutes, the Greens again came close when in a quick break Woods sped clear on the right before serving Odwong inside the area. The latter was quick to lay the ball into the path of Christian Cassar who however, fired wide.
Coleiro was unhappy with his team’s display up front and withdrew the subdued Rodrigo, replacing him with fellow countryman Roberto Fagundes Saraiva.
Floriana’s response was to withdraw Paris as Clyde Borg came in to strengthen his team’s defensive lines.
Tarxien’s response finally arrived on 73 minutes when Bueno picked up a short clearance just outside the area but his fierce shot was stopped by the diving Bartolo.
Two minutes later Grioli’s cross-shot almost surprised Bartolo but luckily for the Floriana goalkeeper the ball rolled wide.
Bueno had a glorious chance to put his team back on level terms when the Brazilian found himself face to face with Bartolo but his shot was stopped by the keeper.
Floriana remained dangerous on the counter attack and three minutes from time Grioli saved his team from further damage when his providential clearance denied the sprinting Odwong who was virtually clean through on goal.
Bartolo again stopped the Rainbows in time added on when Bueno headed the ball into the path of Giglio whose half-volley was repelled by the keeper.
Floriana debut man Joseph Okonkwo had the ball in the Tarxien net deep into stoppage time but his ‘goal’ was annulled for an infringement.
Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-6.5, C. Sammut-5.5, Everton-5.5 (83 S. Caio Garcia), S. Giglio-6, A. Carabott-5.5, Ricardo-5, Rodrigo-5 (69 R. Fagundes Saraiva-5), D.M. Bueno-6.5, O. Anonam-5.5 (60 L. Vella Critien-5), L. Galea-5, J. Grioli-5.
Floriana
M. Bartolo-7.5, M. Micallef-6.5, D. Pisani-6, T. Farrugia-7, O. Bugeja-6.5, T. Paris-6.5 (71 C. Borg-6), P. Doffo-7, C. Cassar-8 (77 J. Okonkwo), J. Mintoff-6.5, I. Woods-7.5, B. Odwong-7.5.
Referee: Michael Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Grioli, Doffo, Sammut.
BOV Player of the match: Christian Cassar (Floriana).
Attendances: 1,155.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Birkirkara | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Floriana | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Hibernians | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Marsaxlokk | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Ħamrun | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Sliema | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Balzan Youths | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Qormi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Mqabba | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tarxien | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Mosta | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Playing today - National Stadium
6.30 p.m. Mqabba vs Sliema
8.30 p.m. Qormi vs Balzan