Tyrone Farrugia was on target for Floriana as they returned to winning ways, defeating Tarxien Rainbows 5-1.
Playing under constant rain throughout the ninety minutes, the Greens managed to score three in five minutes by the 20th minute to make sure of ending their recent disappointing losing streak with a comfortable win which puts them in second place, on level points with Birkirkara, who however have a game in hand. For the Rainbows, this was the third defeat in four matches.
Tarxien lacked Mark Tanti and the suspended Manuel Caruana, Justin Grioli, Daniel Mariano Bueno while Gianluca Calabretta and Ryan Mintoff were back after serving a one-match ban. Floriana welcomed back Daniel Nwoke and Duncan Pisani but lacked Clyde Borg as he was suspended.
The Rainbows had the first attempt at goal on the 8th minute when a cross shot by Everton Antonio Pereira ended just over the bar.
Floriana managed to take the lead on 16 minutes when off a Christian Cassar freekick from the left, Tyrone Farrugia headed the ball home past goalkeeper David Cassar.
Tarxien replied with a powerful shot by Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues which was deflected into a corner by Lotfi Saidi on the 17th. A minute later, Cristiano hit the woodwork with a header for Tarxien. On the other side of the pitch, Dragomir Dragonov went close with a header off a cross by Christian Cassar.
On the 20th, Tyrone Farrugia beat David Cassar from close range following a Christian Cassar freekick to double the score.
A minute later, a corner by Christian Cassar from the left, apparently deflected by Tyrone Farrugia beat the Tarxien custodian to make it 3-0.
A powerful shot by Cristiano was partially saved by Saidi on 27 minutes.
Floriana increased the lead on 32 minutes when off a cross by Christian Cassar from the left, the ball fell at the feet of Dragomir Draganov who controlled before hitting past goalkeeper David Cassar.
Four minutes in the second half, the Rainbows were awarded a penalty after Brian Said floored Cristiano inside the area. Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira converted to reduce the gap.
However Floriana went 5-1 ahead on 56 with a great goal by Pablo Doffo whose brilliant shot from a distance of around 30 metres gave goalkeeper David Cassar no chance.
Tyrone Farrugia could have added more goals first when he had a close-range header turned into a corner by Cassar following a Christian Cassar freekick and then when he had another header saved by the goalkeeper on the goal line. Shots by Ivan Woods and Daniel Nwoke in added time were blocked by defenders.
Tyrone Farrugia was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photo: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
FLORIANA Lotfi Saidi, Brian Said (85′ Owen Bugeja), Thomas Paris, Tyrone Farrugia, Duncan Pisani, Pablo Doffo (70’ Joseph Borg), Ivan Woods, Dragomir Draganov (80’ Sacha Borg), Christian Cassar, Manolito Micallef, Daniel Nwoke.
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Christian Caruana, Mark Gauci, Alan Abela.
Coach: Michael Woods
TARXIEN David Cassar, Steve Sadowski, Everton Antonio Pereira, Gianluca Calabretta (46’ Sergio Hili), Ricardo Costa, Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues, Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira (83′ Andre Farrugia), Luke Vella Critien, Orosco Anonam, Ryan Mintoff (35’ Julian Vella), Lee Galea.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Michael Agius, Jean Luca Caruana.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Assistant Coach: Michael Church
Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Malcolm Mercieca
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: Anonam, Vella Critien, Calabretta, Saidi, Cristiano, Draganov
Scorers: 16’ Tyrone Farrugia (F); 20’ Tyrone Farrugia (F); 21’ Tyrone Farrugia (F); 32’ Dragomir Draganov (F); 49’ Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira pen (T); 56’ Pablo Doffo (F)
Attendance: 816
Qormi bounced back from Monday’s heavy defeat to Sliema Wanderers as they defeated Vittoriosa Stars 4-1 to move eight points clear of the same Vittoriosa.
Goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia was back for Qormi but Matthew Camilleri, Roderick Sammut and Matthew Bartolo were all missing for Qormi. On the other hand, Leighton Grech and Kevin Mifsud were ruled out for Vittoriosa. Coach Winston Muscat was unable to lead the team from the bench as he was banned for two matches.
Qormi took the lead on the 7th minute when off a Joseph Farrugia corner from the right, Michael Mifsud headed the ball home past goalkeeper Simon Agius.
Vittoriosa replied with an Alan Tabone effort which was turned into a corner by Matthew Farrugia and from the resulting corner, Edison Luis Dos Santos’ acrobatic effort was blocked by Jason Vandelannoite on 14 minutes. A minute later, Simon Agius rushed to the edge of the area to stop Abubakar Bello-Osagie from concluding. Matthew Farrugia then turned into a corner a Carlos Campagnoli low shot from the left on 32 minutes.
Abubakar Bello-Osagie doubled the score on 32 minutes when he received a cross from the left by Kang Hojung and with a diagonal shot, he managed to beat the Vittoriosa goalkeeper.
One minute in the second half, Qormi scored the third goal when Michael Mifsud rounded a defender and beat Simon Agius with a diagonal shot.
Carlos Campagnoli went close to reducing the gap on 51 minutes when he concluded a solo effort with a shot from the right which was blocked by Matthew Farrugia.
He was not to be denied on 55 minutes when off an Alan Tabone corner from the right, Campagnoli headed the ball home.
Four minutes later, Jonathan Xerri served Edison Luis Dos Santos on the right and the latter’s rising shot hit the crossbar.
Stefan Giglio went close for Qormi with a powerful shot from outside the area ending just wide on 69 minutes. Three minutes later, Joseph Farrugia served substitute Josue Souza Santos on the right but the latter’s diagonal shot scraped past the post.
On 77 minutes, Jorge Santos Silva served Alan Tabone on the edge of the area but the latter’s shot just missed the target. Stefan Giglio was unlucky to hit the upright ten minutes later when served by Farrugia from the left.
One minute from time, Qormi sealed the issue with a fourth goal when they were awarded a penalty after Ryan Grech brought Joseph Farrugia down inside the area. From the penalty spot, Josue Souza Santos made no mistake.
Three minutes in added time, Matthew Farrugia denied Vittoriosa a second goal when he stopped Carlos Campagnoli’s fine header following a cross from the right.
Michael Mifsud was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photo: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
VITTORIOSA Simon Agius, Murilo Maccari (37’ Anthony Ewurum), Justin Camilleri, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Carlos Camapagnoli, Edison Luis Dos Santos, Ryan Grech, Jonathan Xerri, Jorge Santos Silva, Stephen Wellman, Alan Tabone (83’ Dino Cachia).
Subs not used: Jean Vella, Clayton Micallef, Carl Sammut, Larry Lagana, Mauro Brincat.
Assistant Coach: Darren Abdilla
QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Jason Vandelannoite, Stefan Giglio, Christos Karamanolis, Keith Fenech, Michael Mifsud (90’ Ben Camilleri), Joseph Chetcuti (70’ George Mallia), Joseph Farrugia, Abubakar Bello-Osagie (60’ Josue Souza Santos), Jonathan Bondin, Kang Hojung.
Subs not used: Gian Tonna, Luke Sciberras, Cleavon Frendo, Gabriel Buttigieg.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi
Assistant Coach: Charles Scerri
Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Mariano Debono (replaced by Clayton Pisani)
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani (replaced by Fyodor Zammit)
Yellow Cards: R. Grech, J. Farrugia, K. Fenech
Scorers: 7’ Michael Mifsud (Q); 32’ Abubakar Bello-Osagie (Q); 46’ Michael Mifsud (Q); 55’ Carlos Campagnoli (V); 89’ Josue Souza Santos pen (Q)