Hamrun S 3
Tarxien R 1
Anderson Ribeiro scored twice to lead Hamrun to an important 3-1 victory against companions-in-distress Tarxien Rainbows yesterday evening.
The victory – after two consecutive defeats - enabled the Spartans to move on to the 14-point mark, in eighth place. Tarxien suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and they now occupy bottom place with Mosta but the latter have a better goal difference.
It was a deserved win for the Spartans who, after taking a 3-0 lead, withstood Tarxien’s onslaught to emerge confident winners.
Hamrun appeared to be the better team in the first half. They saw more of the ball thanks to a solid midfield composed of Kevin Sammut, Rupert Mangion and Ribeiro while Calabretta, Shields and Bonnici often provided anxious moments for the Tarxien defence.
At the interval, they deserved the two-goal lead, even if their second seemed to have originated from an offside.
The Rainbows must blame themselves for having been two goals in arrears at the interval. They played some good football, but were somewhat poor in their conclusions, missing two good opportunities which might have given the match a different story.
On one occasion, Caio Garcia Suguino, returning from suspension, should have equalised hitting over when ideally placed.
In the second half, the Spartans seemed to have wrapped up the game when they added a third goal soon after the start. But it was not to be as Tarxien pulled one back immediately afterwards from a penalty and then threatened seriously to come back into the match, although their hopes never materialised.
The Spartans defended grimly but managed to hold on till the end to secure three precious points.
Missing for the Rainbows were the injured Bueno and Giglio, while the Spartans had Spiteri, and L. Sciberras ruled out through suspension.
Bonnici, Sammut and Mangion were returning to the Hamrun side while Tarxien had Sadowski, Suguino and Ricardo Costa back in the starting line up while Julian Vella and Lee Galea made it to the starting line-up.
The match had a balanced start but we had to wait till the 17th minute for the first action when Tarxien protested for a penalty after Gacesa seemed to have pushed Suguino as the latter had entered the area. But referee Caruana, close to the action, weaved play on.
Soon after, at the other end, it was Dene Shields who tested Cassar in the Tarxien goal, but the goalie saved in two attempts.
Hamrun took the lead on the 24th minute when Ribeiro set Shields who let loose a grounder which Cassar touched, but could not hold from going over the line and into the net.
In the 27th minute, Caio Suguino tried his luck from 25 metres, but Cassar was up to the task and saved. Moments later, the same player missed a sitter from an ideal position.
Hamrun scored a second goal on the 37th minute. Shields appeared to be in an offside position before passing to Ribeiro who hit home past Cassar.
Tarxien should have been awarded a penalty in the 47th minute, when Ribeiro appearedto handle the ball from a cross by Costa, but Caruana again waved play on.
Hamrun added a third goal soon after. From a Kevin Sammut corner, it was Ribeiro who scored with a beautiful header.
A minute later, Tarxien were awarded a penalty when Gacesa floored Costa in the area. The same Costa sent Cassar the other side to reduce the gap.
On the hour, it was the hard-working Carl Sammut who missed a good chance to pull back another for the Rainbows, but on entering the area, he hit the ball badly and wide.
Eight minutes from the end, Shields hit wide with an open goal at his mercy after receiving from Sammut.
Hamrun S.: A. Cassar, C. Polli, M. Gauci, N. Gacesa, D. Camilleri, R. Mangion, K. Sammut, G. Calabretta (D. Zerafa, C. Debattista), D. Shields, A. Mendes Ribeiro (R. Spiteri), S. Bonnici.
Coach: J. Zammit
Tarxien R.: D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, C. Sammut, M. Caruana (W. Zerafa), E. Pereira, R. Costa, J. Vella (L. Vella Critien), O. Anonam, L. Galea, C. Garcia Suguino, J. Grioli (C. Fenech).
Coach: P. Curmi
Referee: P. Caruana
Asst refs: K. Borg, R. Vella
4th official: M. Spiteri.
Scorers: D. Shields 24, A. Ribeiro 37, 49, R. Costa 51 pen
Yellow cards: N. Gacesa, M. Gauci, A. Ribeiro, C. Sammut,
Player of the match: A. Ribeiro
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Ribeiro, 2. R. Mangion, 3. C. Sammut
Attendance: 611