Qormi 1
Tarxien Rainbows 0
A Joseph Chetcuti second-half goal handed Qormi a crucial win in a clash between the two newly-promoted teams in the top flight.
The match was a drab affair and victory materialised courtesy of a rare defensive error by Tarxien defender Ivan Carapic. Chetcuti profited from the situation to give Qormi three points that lifted them to third-from-bottom, one ahead of Hamrun Spartans.
Tarxien were forced to make some tactical changes to their starting formation. Warren Chircop and Ryan Grech were ruled out through injury and Mark Tanti was not available for selection.
Defenders Pio Sciriha and Lino Galea only featured among the substitutes as the Rainbows took to this encounter with the odds heavily staked against them.
The Rainbows have relied mainly on the swift Daniel Bueno to deliver the goals up front this season. The Argentine has nine to his credit in the league and his significant contribution has led many to believe that he can help the team avoid the drop this season. Yesterday, he was out of form.
But this was not Tarxien's day. They also lost the services of skipper Manuel Caruana after only five minutes. He was replaced by young Melvin Pisani.
Qormi also had their fair share of problems to contend with as Alfred Effiong, Paul Camilleri and Joseph Farrugia were all out of contention.
As early as the sixth minute, Qormi could have been in the lead as Adrian Ciantar's free-kick found defender Ramon Dos Santos whose clever back-heel caused some concern to the Tarxien rearguard but the ball was cleared into a corner.
Shy of the first quarter a timely tackle from Tarxien's Lee Galea thwarted Ciantar as the latter was making a clean run for goal.
The match failed to maintain the early momentum as both goalkeepers were rarely called into action. Five minutes from half-time, Anatole Debono smacked a low shot from outside the penalty area which was saved by Tarxien goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.
Three minutes later, Decesare slipped an excellent ball towards the right flank for Luke Vella Critien who outwitted Dos Santos with some deft footwork before curling a shot goalwards that forced Matthew Farrugia to dive to his right to parry the effort.
A minute into the second half, Qormi broke the deadlock courtesy of an unusual howler by Carapic whose header towards team-mate Curmi was intercepted by Chetcuti. The latter kept his cool before whipping a shot into the net.
At the other end, Kevin Borg had a glorious chance to level matters on 50 minutes but dallied his shot. He still managed to slice the ball but Farrugia was alert to block.
Tarxien introduced James Shead on 66 minutes in a bid to bolster their attack, particularly as the lone Bueno was finding it increasingly hard to make his presence felt.
But Qormi ventured forward and on 71 minutes Massimo Grima chipped the ball towards Chetcuti whose volley finished over the bar.
With the clock weighing down, coach Noel Coleiro made a bold decision as he instructed Carapic to partner Bueno and Shead up front as Tarxien made a last-ditch effort to salvage a point.
In the last ten minutes, the Rainbows pushed more men forward as Qormi's rearguard was put under some strain with Tarxien deploying a 3-4-3 module.
Inside the last three minutes, the Rainbows could have restored equilibrium as Decesare lofted a cross from the left and Bueno thundered in with a lightning header which Farrugia did extremely well to save.
Qormi: M. Farrugia-7, R. Dos Santos-7.5, M. Grima-6.5, A. Debono, K. Fenech-6.5, J. Chetcuti-7, S. Tellus-6.5, R. Sammut-6.5, M. Borg-6, J. Da Silva-6.5, A. Ciantar-6.5 ('90 J. Saliba).
Tarxien Rainbows: A. Curmi-6.5, S. Sadowski-6, M. Caruana ('5 M. Pisani-6.5), I. Carapic-6, L. Galea-6.5 ('90 A. Galea), A. Decesare-6, R. Schembri-6, D. Bueno-6, L. Vella Critien-6.5 ('66 J. Shead-5.5), K. Borg-6, R. M. Cariaga-6.
Scorer: Chetcuti 47
Referee Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards Lee Galea, Debono.
BoV Player of the Match Ramon Dos Santos (Qormi).