Zebbuga R.-Tarxien R 3-3
Zebbug R: J. Farrugia, L. Galea, J. Diaz, Y. Camilleri, J. Borg (J. Nwoba), C. Gauci, M. Bartolo, M. Mucchiardi, C. Monti, B. Mamic (M. Gauci), M. Britto (L. Agius)
Tarxien R: S. Cini, M. Caruana, O. Bugeja, A. Rodrigues Silva, C. Barbosa (F. Aboulezz), T. Caruana, W. Lima, R. Sammut, C. Hevia, A. Cini, A. Lopes
Referee: A. Azzopardi
Asst.refs: P.Apap, T. Debono
Additional refs: A. M. Sant, G. Tonna
4th official: C. Francalanza
Scorers: W. Lima 1, A. Rodrigues 25, C. Monti 29, 52 pen, T. Caruana 50, M. Britto 68
Yellow cards: A.Rodrigues, A. Lopes, M. Mucchiardi, J. Borg
Player of the match: W. Lima (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1 W. Lima 2. M. Mucchiardi 3. M. Britto
Zebbug Rangers looked destined to endure another miserable afternoon as they trailed Tarxien Rainbows by two goals within the first 25 minutes. But a plucky second half fightback earned Rangers a valuable point, the first for them this season since winning promotion to the Premier League.
Tarxien were very good for the first half hour, with Wesley Lima running the show, and looked capable of obtaining their first league win of the season. But when Zebbug reduced the deficit through a spectacular Monti volley, the Rainbows lost their rhythm. Going 3-1 up in the seond half, Tarxien squandered a couple of chances and ended up surrendering a two-goal lead to settle for a fourth consecutive draw.
The Rangers, who had forward Bojan Mamic making his first appearance for them, were on the backfoot by the first minute. The latecomers were still finding their seat when Wesley Lima chased a long ball forward by Caruana to slot it low beyond keeper Farrugia’s reach.
The Zebbug rearguard struggled to contain the Tarxien forward. Another incursion down the right forced keeper Farrugia to block at his feet. On 10 minutes Lima again came face to face with the Zebbug custodian, on a Rodrigues pass, but he lofted the ball over the bar.
Lima again played a wide ball to Barbosa who narrowly missed the target. Not surprisingly, Tarxien doubled their lead midway through the half. Hevia’s pass from midfield beat the Zebbug offside trap. The flag did not go up and Lima advanced unhindered, played the ball square to Alvaro Rodrigues who scored with a powerful drive.
At that stage, Tarxien looked heading towards a cruise but when Zebbug hit one back short of the half hour, the ebb and tide changed completely.
Carlo Monti beat keeper Cini from inside the area with a perfect volley at the top corner, connecting well to Borg’s long cross from the right to reduce the deficit.
Tarxien looked rattled as Zebbug looked the better team for the half’s remaining minutes and even went close to level matters before halftime.
Britto played the ball towards the middle, falling invitingly to Mucchiardi, whose shot flew over the bar. Britto himself went even closer, after beating Bugeja’s challenge inside the Tarxien area on the left, but his shot skimmed the far post.
Goals continued to flow in the second period. Tarxien reasserted themselves to restore their two-goal lead after five minutes. Lima played the ball forward for Triston Caruana to beat keeper Farrugia after going past Bartolo.
But Zebbug’s immediate response earned them a penalty for Bugeja’s late tackle on Mucchiardi just inside the Tarxiena area two minutes later. Carlo Monti coolly tucked it away, sending keeper Cini the wrong way.
Tarxien could have added more goals. Lima somehow failed to put his close header on target when challenged by two Zebbug defenders and on the hour Alvaro Rodrigues should have finished off Sammut’s pass but shot straight on the onrushing Zebbug keeper.
The goal came on the other end though. On 68 minutes substitute Nwoba, who had just replaced Borg, delivered a cut-back cross from the byeline on the left for the unmarked Maurico Britto to strike low past the helpless keeper Cini and salvage a point for the newcomers.