FLORIANA-5, TARXIEN RAINBOWS-1
Floriana returned to winning ways with a bang this afternoon as they thrashed Tarxien Rainbows 5-1 at a rainswept Hibs Stadium.
Tyrone Farrugia was Floriana’s hero as he scored three goals inside the opening 22 minutes to knock the fight out of Tarxien whose performance left much to be desired.
The Greens’ first victory in five game took them on the 17-point mark, two ahead of the fifth-placed Rainbows.
The two teams took some time to settle as they struggled to come to terms with the soaking pitch.
But, after 15 minutes, Floriana took the lead. Christian Cassar’s cross a left-wing free-kick arced towards the six-yard box where Tyrone Farrugia headed past the onrushing David Cassar, the Tarxien goalkeeper.
Floriana’s opener brought a reaction from Tarxien. Cristiano came close to an equaliser but his rising shot was touched away for a corner form Lofti Saidi, the Floriana goalkeeper. The ensuing corner, taken by Sergio, was pushed away by Saidi who, moments later, was rescued by the woodwork as Cristiano’s header from another Sergio corner came off the crossbar.
Tarxien were now playing better but their task became more complicated when Floriana doubled their lead on 19 minutes. Cassar, the Tarxien goalkeeper, dropped Cassar’s free-kick with the ball flashing against the base of the near post and into the path of Farrugia who poked home.
The Greens took just three minutes to go 3-0 up. The Tarxien defence was again at fault as Cassar whipped in a swerving cross-cum-shot from a left-wing corner and Farrugia’s presence at the near post unsettled Cassar.
Farrugia appeared to apply a slight touch to Cassar’s corner as the ball rolled behind the diving Tarxien goalkeeper but the Floriana midfielder signalled that the goal was his.
Three goals down after only 22 minutes, Tarxien had to produce an instant reaction to try and get back into contention.
Cristiano had another shot repelled by Saidi but Floriana struck again on 32 minutes, Dragomir Draganov firing home from close range after Tarxien had partially cleared Manoi Micallef’s cross from the left.
Three minutes from the end of the first half, Everton, attacking on the right wing for Tarxien, crossed for Ricardo whose low shot posed no trouble to Saidi.
The Rainbows looked to have gained a lifeline when referee Andre Arciola gave them a penalty three minutes into the second half for Brian Said’s push on Cristiano. Sergio made no mistake from the spot but Floriana restored their four-goal advantage 10 minutes into the second half when Pablo Doffo’s long-range drive had the better of Cassar.
Floriana would have made it 6-1 but for a fine save from Cassar who pushed Farrugia’s header over the bar following another excellent set-piece cross from Cassar.
At the other end, the Floriana defenders did well to block successive shots from Sergio and Cristiano after Tarxien’s Brazilian forwards had combined well inside the box.
In the dying moments, Cassar denied Farrugia another goal when parrying away his downward header from another Cassar corner.
The Tarxien goalkeeper then warded off a strong drive from Woods and Lee Galea blocked Nwoke’s follow-on attempt as Floriana ended the game on the offensive.
Floriana’s Farrugia was voted BOV player of the match.