The Malta Independent on Sunday
Depleted Tarxien compound Floriana’s problems
Tarxien are on an upward curve as they stretched their unbeaten run to three league matches to remain in mid-table.
Despite being forced to field an understrength side, the Rainbows capitalised on Floriana’s bad patch, inflicting yet another worrisom defeat that leaves the Greens in the doldrums. Floriana remain winless in four consecutive matches, amid the disgruntlement of their fans.
On two oaccsions, they failed to hold on to their lead in the first half and after falling behind in the second period, they failed to make a decent reaction, despite playing with three strikers for the final half hour.
Karl Pulo was Tarxien’s inspiration yesterday as he thrived in his abilty to torment the Floriana rearguard time and time again, with his pace and power on the left flank. He scored his side’s first and provided an assist for the second, as team mate Danilo Meira helped himself to a brace.
Tarxien were a depleted side yesterday, bereft of four regulars due to suspension, following their 2-2 draw against Hibernians. Justin Grioli and Manuel Caruana were missing in defence, although Evaldo was making his return. Sadowski started as right back as Steve Bonnici played as centre back, with Anonam in a more advanced midfield role to make up for Bueno’s absence. Mark Tanti also started in midfield, replaciing their other suspended Adrian Esposito.
Tarxien’s midfield was all down to the workrate of Roderick Bajada, David Fenech and Orosco Anonam but it was more quantity rather than quality.
Floriana, who had been beaten by Valletta in last week’s derby, were buoyed by the return of Aaron Brown in defence. Ryan Darmanin was also given the nod as Alhino and Bugeja were both missing.
They twice took the lead in the first half but surrendered it each time for the teams to remain tied at 2-2 at halftime.
All four goals came from defensive blunders, one on each side even from dead ball situations.
Floriana were first to break the deadlock with hardly four minutes on the clock. Tarxien’s keeper Vella fumbled the ball when challenged by Jeffers on a Pisani high cross, and it fell at Ryan Darmanin to knock it in.
Hardly a minute later, the Floriana forward steered his header just wide on a Cilia cross.
But past the quarter hour Tarxien, spurred by the mobility of wide player Karl Pulo, won a free kick on the edge of the Floriana area from the middle. Keeper Warner was forced to stretch himself to hold out Evaldo’s kick but Pulo was quick to hit in the loose ball.
Floriana retained the lead ten minute later though. Verma thumped his free kick agaisnt the cross bar and Francis Jeffers headed in the rebound to score his first
player league goal for the Greens.
Jeffers almost made them two as his shot from outside the area, on the half hour, took a wicked deflection but keeper Vell a produced a smart save into a corner.
On 39 minutes Tarxien again restored equilibrium. Pulo had the better of Pisani on the left, worked his way from the byeline to deliver a low cross that the Floriana central defenders failed to cut out and the unmolested Danilo Meira had the easiest of tasks to toe-poke the ball from close range.
Tarxien put in De Castro instead of Mamo for the second half and remained menacing with a Pulo diagonal shot turned into a corner by keeper Warner.
On the hour, Floriana effected a double substitution, putting in Wasiu and Joseph Borg, but Tarxien, after going close again with an Anonam shot, went in front for the first time in the match. On 73 minutes, the Floriana left side was ripped apart by De Castro’s through pass to Meira who advanced to beat the goalkeeper with a low drive. In both goals, the Brazilian failed to celebrate.
On 75 minutes, Meira went close again, avoiding the onrushing goalkeeper from the left but putting his shot slightly over from a tight angle.
Floriana’s late efforts were rather frantic and reaped no dividends as Tyrone Farrugia’s effort, after advancing from the back, was blocked by keeper Vella. And with both Bonnici and Evaldo providing good defensive security, Tarxien could preserve the lead with minimal difficulty till the very end.