Qormi 1
Vella 4;
Tarxien Rainbows 4
Caruana 17; Pedro 20; Baker 25; Danilo 89;

A goal down after just three minutes, Tarxien Rainbows produced the right response as a three-goal burst in the space of eight first-half minutes enabled them to see off a disjointed Qormi side yesterday.

Qormi had generally looked solid in defence this season, but yesterday Johann Scicluna’s men were vulnerable at the back as they struggled to cope with the fast attacking play of the Rainbows forwards.

In the end, Tarxien finished as comfortable winners to bag their third successive victory while for Qormi it was a step back after their encouraging performances against Hibernians and Valletta.

Things had looked bright for Qormi who took a shock lead as early as the fourth minute.

Brandon Muscat gave Terence Vella space on the right flank and the Qormi striker left fly a fierce drive that flew into the top corner of the net.

This goal spurned Tarxien into action and on 13 minutes, Jacques Scerri’s boys nearly levelled the score as Luke Montebello’s shot thundered off the post.

But Tarxien’s stranglehold in midfield soon had a telling factor on the encounter as five minutes later the Rainbows equalised.

Joao Pedro’s typical menacing free-kick was palmed onto the post by the Qormi goalkeeper Jean-Matthias Vella and Triston Caruana was first on the rebound to prod the ball into the net – 1-1.

Qormi were rattled and three minutes later Pedro punished again the Qormi defence.

The Brazilian striker was first to react on a poor clearance and unleashed a powerful drive that flew behind Vella via the post.

There were more woes for Scicluna’s side as on 25 minutes, Tarxien added a third goal.

Ayrton Azzopardi’s raking corner flashed across the face of goal before finding Ebiabowei Baker to push the ball over the line.

Qormi tried to get back into the contest with a Clifford Gauci cross from a free-kick finding Noah Ojula unmarked in the area but the defender hit wide from routine distance.

Two goals down after taking an early lead, Qormi looked devoid of inspiration as Tarxien stayed in control.

Scicluna will not have been pleased with his team’s toothless display in the first half and made a first substitution at half-time. Steve Agius came on for Emerson Vella and then, dropped Kurt Magro for Ryan Micallef.

Micallef almost put his name on the scoresheet but his close-range effort was blocked by the Tarxien rearguard.

But Qormi’s residual comeback hopes were ended when, with two minutes left, the Rainbows scored their fourth.

Striker Danilo, with practically his first touch of the ball after replacing Montebello, stabbed the ball past the onrushing Vella.

Qormi
J. Vella-4, A. Cassar-5, O. Sidibe-4, N. Ojuola-5, B. Berntsson-5, E. Vella-5 (46 S. Agius-5), C. Gauci-5, K. Magro-5 (65 R. Micallef-4), C. Monti-4, T. Vella-5, A. Nilsson-4.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Cassar-6, E. Baker-6, Bruno-6, T. Caruana-6, B. Muscat-5.5, A. Azzopardi-6, C. Hevia-6 (83 M. Tabone), L. Montebello-6 (86 Danilo), A. Alves-7, J. Pedro-7 (79 R. Bajada), Anderson-6.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Baker, Magro, Muscat, T. Vella, Berntsson.

BOV player of the match: Joao Pedro (Tarxien Rainbows).

Standings