Tarxien Rainbows registered a fine 3-0 win over Floriana at the Hibernians Stadium to move back in fifth place, just one point behind the Greens and one ahead of Balzan.
This was the fourth win in six matches for Jacques Scerri’s side while for Floriana, this defeat brought to an end a run of three consecutive wins.
The Rainbows welcomed back Ebiabowei Baker but lacked the suspended Bruno Giglio de Oliveira. Floriana, on the other hand, could not count on the injured Jurgen Pisani.
Tarxien forged ahead on the 24th minute when off a good cross by Luke Montebello, Ayrton Azzopardi headed home from close range
The Rainbows doubled the score on 33 minutes when Joao Pedro Oliviera Santos sent Alex da Paixao Alves through and the latter advanced before beating Calleja Cremona with a powerful drive.
On the 72nd minute, Pedrinho sent Luke Montebello through but Floriana goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona handled the ball outside the area and was therefore sent off by referee Mario Apap. From the resulting freekick, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos beat Tyrone Gauci to make it 3-0.
FLORIANA Matthew Calleja Cremona, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Steve Pisani (60’ Emanuel Briffa), Clyde Borg (70’ Firas Aboulezz), Juninho Cabral, Andrea Scozzese, Matteo Picollo, Steve Bonnici (83’ Tyrone Gauci), Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fontanella.
Subs not used: Andre Scicluna, Luke Micallef, Neil Spiteri, Daniel Agius, Firas Aboulezz.
Coach: Luis OliveiraTARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Timothy Tabone Desira, Triston Caruana, Brandon Muscat (46’ Lucky Omeruo), Luke Montebello, Ayrton Azzopardi, Carlos Hevia Menendez (82’ Roderick Bajada), Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos (80’, Manuel Caruana)
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Luke Zahra, Gaetano Joseph Gesualdi, Darren SciberrasReferee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Martin Borg
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: Lecao, Baker, Pepe, Tabone Desira
Red Cards: 72′ Matthew Calleja Cremona
Scorers: 24’ Ayrton Azzopardi, 33’ Alex Da Paixao Alves 74’ Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos
BOV Player of the Match: Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos
Attendance at the Hibernians Stadium: 614
An own goal made the whole difference for Birkirkara as they registered a third consecutive win, defeating Qormi 1-0 at the National Stadium.
Birkirkara, for the first time under the guidance of Croat Drazen Besek, had Edison Bilbao Zarate making his debut. Apart from the suspended Mauricio Mazzetti, Ryan Scicluna, Edward Herera and goalkeeper Justin Haber were both missing. Qormi coach Johann Scicluna, on the other hand, had no less than six players under the age of twenty in their starting line-up. Clifford Gauci was ruled out through suspension, Kurt Magro was unavailable while Emerson Vella and Terence Vella are recovering from injuries.
Hardly ten seconds had passed that Vito Plut concluded a solo effort with a shot which hit the foot of the post. On the 14th minute, Frank Temile’s close-range effort hit the foot of the upright.
The Stripes only managed to break the deadlock two minutes from the end of the first half when Vito Plut concluded a good move on the right flank with a shot which was deflected by Ousmane Sidibe for an own goal.
B’KARA Ini Etim Akpan, Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard (46′ Marcelina Emerson), Nikola Vukanac, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Camenzuli, Edmond Agius, Frank Temile, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais, Vito Plut (75′ Kurt Zammit), Edison Bilbao Zarate.
Subs not used: Clyde Xuereb, Joseph Willy, Fabien Lufi, Clint Zammit, Andrea Curmi.
Coach: Drazen BesekQORMI Andreas Vella, Noah Olawole Ojuola, Ousmane Sidibe, Gillmore Azzopardi, Iven Zammit, Tensior Gusman (68′ Juan Carlos Vieira Peixoto), Ryan Micallef (82′ Shamison Zammit), Djamel Leeflang, Yannick Yankam, Alessio Cassar, Immy Micallef (88′ Luke Farrugia).
Subs not used: Jean Matthias Vella, Joshua Barbara, Clint Barbara, Kyle Spiteri.
Coach: Johann SciclunaReferee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Chris Francalanza
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Temile, R. Micallef
Scorers: 43′ own goal Ousmane Sidibe
BOV Player of the Match: Frank Temile
Attendance at the National Stadium: 1,374