Tarxien Rainbows 1
Calabretta 81
Qormi 2
Camilo 53; Effiong 68
Qormi's excellent start to the season has been maintained. Victory over Tarxien Rainbows yesterday hoisted Jesmond Zerafa's side back to the top of the Premier League, level with Valletta on 13 points.
The numerous Qormi supporters were certainly glad to see their team make a quick return to winning ways after last week's 2-0 upset to the Citizens.
Defeats for Valletta and Birkirkara, at the hands of champions Hibs and Floriana respectively, gave Qormi the chance to move back to the top and their lively start to yesterday's match against top-six chasers Tarxien suggested that Zerafa's men were up for the challenge.
Camilo was once again at the heart of Qormi's best attacking moves. The Brazilian went close to giving his team the lead inside the opening 20 minutes. He appeared to have been crowded out by the Tarxien defenders but still forced his way into the box. His angled shot was pushed away for a corner by David Cassar, the Rainbows goalkeeper.
Camilo's direct running down the flank continued to create havoc in the Tarxien defence. Few moments later, he found space out wide, following Massimo Grima's flick-on, and crossed for the unmarked Joseph Chetcuti who headed the ball over the bar from a few metres out.
Qormi looked like a side brimming with confidence as they played some slick football. Yet, Tarxien improved as the first half moved on.
On the half hour mark, Tarxien striker Ribeiro headed wide a cross by Mark Tanti. Two minutes later, Brazilian livewire Denni went agonisingly close with a diagonal drive that flew just past the post.
After the break, Tarxien's Denni continued to cause Qormi problems and one moment of magic saw him drag the ball between two defenders on the right flank before forcing a fine save from Matthew Farrugia.
Yet, there was always the feeling that once Qormi had settled, they would pose more of a threat. That possibility became a reality when Camilo produced a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock.
Eight minutes into the second half, Tarxien's Manuel Caruana fouled Camilo and the Brazilian rifled the resultant free-kick inside David Cassar's near post from 25 metres out to put Qormi in front.
Qormi's increasing pressure on the opponents' rearguard paid off midway through the second half. A mazy run by Camilo took him past a number of defenders and his pass sent Effiong clear. The Nigerian forward slotted home.
All seemed to be going Qormi's way but Effiong's goal surprisingly invigorated the Rainbows. Soon after, Denni's shot was kept out by Farrugia.
And just as Qormi appeared to have taken control, Tarxien got themselves back into the game nine minutes from time. A long pass from David Camilleri was mis-kicked by Ramon Dos Santos and Gianluca Calabretta was on hand to poke the ball home from close range.
The goal boosted Noel Coleiro's side who now piled the pressure on Qormi in search of the equaliser. The Rainbows should have restored parity in stoppage time when Ryan Mintoff escaped the attentions of the Qormi defenders but headed wide from a good position following a cross by substitute Kurt Magro.
Tarxien
D. Cassar-6, S. Sadowski-6, M. Caruana-5 ('83 K. Magro), D. Camilleri-6, G. Calabretta-6.5, A.P. Everton-6.5, A.M. Ribeiro-5.5, M. Tanti-6 ('62 A. Decesare-6), L. Vella Critien-6, Denni-7.5, R. Mintoff-6.
Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, Ramon Dos Santos-6, M. Grima-6.5, K. Fenech-6.5 ('67 R. Deguara-5), J. Chetcuti-6 ('81 K. Spiteri), Camilo-8 ('90 M. Buttigieg), J. Bondin-6, S. Pace-6, R. Sammut-6, S. Wellman-6, A. Effiong-7.5.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Yellow cards: Wellman; Mintoff; Caruana; Effiong; Grima; Farrugia; Deguara; Ramon.
BoV player of the match: Camilo (Qormi).