Rainbows return to winning ways — Qormi move third

Tarxien Rainbows returned to winning ways as they beat a depleted Mqabba side by the odd goal in five. The Rainbows, for the first time under the guidance of coach Patrick Curmi, seemed heading towards a most comfortable win after scoring three in the first twenty minutes but Mqabba hit back with two goals which were however not enough for them to earn something from the game.

Mqabba were a depleted side as they lacked Branislav Timotic, Marko Potezica, Clayton Micallef, Mark Anthony Psaila and Bojan Mamic – all suspended. Tarxien, on the other hand, lacked Ricardo Costa.

The Rainbows took the lead on the 6th minute when Rodrigo Galvao served Daniel Mariano Bueno and the latter hit past goalkeeper Kris Calleja.

Tarxien doubled the score on 14 minutes when off a cross by Caio Garcia Suguino, Anonam headed in the direction of Daniel Mariano Bueno whose header beat Calleja

Two minutes later, Rodrigo Galvao could have added another when he took an erratic clearance but his low shot was blocked by the Mqabba custodian. On the 17th minute, Manuel Caruana had a close-range effort partially saved by Calleja following a Suguino freekick from the right. Sammut then risked committing an own goal hitting the woodwork with a header in a clearance.

Tarxien scored the third goal on the 20th when off a Karl Pulo corner from the right, Orosco Anonam headed home.

One minute later, Mqabba pulled one back with a direct freekick by Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli from the left which beat Tarxien goalie David Cassar.

Bueno went close once again with a close-range effort which was deflected into a corner by Calleja on 31 minutes.

Three minutes in the second half, Mqabba were awarded a penalty as referee Paul Caruana judged Marlon Briffa as being fouled by Stefan Giglio and from the penalty spot, Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli made no mistake.

On 64 minutes, Rodrigo Galvao rounded Kris Calleja serving Carl Pulo whose conclusion was cleared off the goal line by Ryan Sammut.

David Cassar performed a great save on a Thiago Mazzitelli direct freekick, turning the ball into a corner on 73 minutes. Four minutes later, John Paul Muscat missed an incredible chance, when served by Mazzitelli, having his conclusion from just in front of the goalkeeper, blocked.

Daniel Mariano Bueno was voted BOV Player of the Match.

TARXIEN David Cassar, Steve Sadowski (55’ Carl Sammut), Manuel Caruana (84’ Julian Vella), Everton Antonio Pereira, Stefan Giglio, Rodrigo Andreis Galvao, Karl Pulo (72’ Adrian Carabott), Daniel Mariano Bueno, Orosco Anonam, Caio Garcia Suguino, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Roberto Fagundes Saraiva, Luke Vella Critien, Lee Galea.
Coach: Patrick Curmi
Asst. Coach: Michael Church

MQABBA Kris Calleja, Pierre Grima, Marlon Briffa, David Azzopardi, Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli, Claudio Calleja, John Paul Muscat, Mauro Bonnici, Ryan Sammut, Rene Duca, Shawn Magro.
Subs not used: Franklin Azzopardi, Charlot Attard, Mark Fenech, Omar Farrugia, Claudio Gatt, Ryan Farrugia, Gary D’Amato.
Coach: Clive Mizzi
Asst. Coach: Renzo Kerr Cumbo

Referee: Paul Caruana
Assistant referees: Alan Camilleri, Joe Camilleri
Fourth official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Suguino, Giglio, Pulo, Grima, Bonnici, Anonam, Briffa
Scorers: 6’ Daniel Mariano Bueno, 14’ Daniel Mariano Bueno, 20’ Orosco Anonam, 21’ Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli, 48’ Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli (pen)

Qormi joined Floriana in third place on sixteen points as they registered a comfortable 4-1 win over ten-man Mosta.

This defeat leaves the Blues alone at the bottom of the table with four points, three behind Marsaxlokk, Hamrun Spartans and Tarxien Rainbows.

Qormi took the lead on the 4th minute when a diagonal shol by Jorge Pereira da Silva beat goalkeeper Jonathan Debono and before the ball could the goal line, Daniel Nwoke placed the ball at the back of the net.

On the 19th minute, a great freekick by Joseph Farrugia was turned into a corner in style by the Mosta custodian.

Mosta replied with a good move by Michel Maki Mvondo who entered the penalty area on 28 minutes, serving Ian Zammit who arrived seconds late, failing to connect from close range. Eight minutes later, a freekick by Firas Aboulezz was deflected by the Qormi defence before hitting the posts.

Five minutes from the end of the first half, Mosta defender Federico Tisbi was sent off by referee Andre Arciola after Jorge Pereira da Silva ended on the ground as he was heading towards goal. From the resulting freekick, Joseph Farrugia placed the ball in the top left corner behind Jonathan Debono to double the score.

Four minutes in the second half, Qormi scored the third goal when Matthew Bartolo released Abubakar Bello-Osagie on the right and the latter slotted the ball past the Mosta custodian.

On the hour, Qormi scored the fourth goal thanks to an Abubakar Bello-Osagie header off a corner from the right by Jorge Pereira.

Mosta reduced the gap on 73 minutes when substitute Alex Cini entered the penalty area only to have his attempt blocked by a defender, Michel Bertrand Maki Mvondo took the rebound, beating goalkeeper Steve Sultana.

Joseph Farrugia was voted BOV Player of the Match.

QORMI Matthew Farrugia (66’ Steve Sultana), Jeffrey Chetcuti, Roderick Sammut (53’ Stephen Wellman), Matthew Bartolo, Joseph Farrugia (73’ Carmelo Farrugia), Kenneth Scicluna, Federico Mirarchi, Jonathan Bondin, Jorge Pereira da Silva, Abubakar Bello-Osagie, Daniel Nwoke.
Subs not used: Charlon Sammut, Luke Sciberras, Dino Cachia, Gabriel Buttigieg.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi
Technical Advisor: Steve D’Amato

MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Adrian Borg, Luca Martinelli, Federico Tisbi, Bryan Agius (49’ Kane Farrugia), Nikola Bogdanovic, Sheldon Grexh, Arilson Mello da Silva (62’ Alex Cini), Firas Aboulezz (45’ Yannick Ossok), Ian Zammit, Michel Bertrand Maki Mvondo.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Kurt Magro, Jonathan Bajada, Gilbert Martin.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri
Asst. Coach: Ramon Zammit

Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant referees: Mariano Debono, Alex Grech
Fourth official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Grech, Sammut, Agius
Red Cards: 40’ Federico Tisbi
Scorers: 5’ Daniel Nwoke, 42’ Joseph Farrugia, 49’ Abubakar Bello-Osagie, 60’ Abubakar Bello-Osagie, 73’ Michel Maki-Mvondo
Attendance: 804