Pieta H. 0
Tarxien R. 3
Pieta H.: N. Vella, T. Ose, C. Degabriele, N. Pace Cocks (J. Ghigo 83'), D. Agius, J. Busuttil (S. Nakamura 64'), G. Mensah, J. Artiaga Roa, C. Grech, P. Chimezie (C. Bouvet 83'), I. Jalo Ishaya
Tarxien R.: A. Cassar, M. Botta, J. Wemmer (M.Brincat 88'), D. Zerafa, M. Paolucci (J. De Paixao 76'), G. Aquilina, A. Agius, A. Scicluna, S. Radovanovic, R. Faria, A. Nilsson (M. Ciantar 68')
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Asst refs: Jurgen Spiteri, Paul Apap
4th official: Matthew Degabriele
Scorers: Alex Nilsson 45', Michele Paolucci 67' (p), 74'
Yellow cards: Botta, Scicluna, Degabriele, Jalo
Player of the match: Michele Paolucci (Tarxien R.)
TMI Top 3: 1. M.Paolucci 2. J. Wemmer 3. A. Nilsson
Tarxien emerged easy winners against Pieta when with a dominant display they outclassed their opponents in the first match played at the National Stadium. This win gave Tarxien some breathing space leapfrogging Floriana and St. Andrew's into eight place.
Tarxien were coming from a 3-1 defeat against Balzan wheras Pieta were on a positive run gaining five points from their last three matches.
The Rainbows coach made three changes from their last match drafting in Daniel Zerafa, Ricardo Faria and Alexander Nilsson instead of Matthew Brincat, Daniel Vassallo and Anderson.
His counterpart was forced to make one change prior to kick off with Paul Chimezie starting instead of Nakamura who was listed in the initial line up.
Pieta were the first to threaten when on 10 minutes a Christian Grech shot from just outside the area was blocked by Cassar. Tarxien responded six minutes later when off a Wemmer cross from the right flank Botta took too much time to control and the chance went begging.
Play for rather drab for long stretches and it was only near the end of the first half that the match came to life. In the 38th minute Radovanovic squared towards the unmarked Aquilina whose shot from the edge of the area just missed the target.
Two minute later Busuttil played towards Pace Cocks who in return set Christian Grech but the latter failed to connect when in front of goal. On 43 minutes it was Pieta once again when Ose set Pace Cocks but his diagonal shot was blocked by Cassar.
A minute from the end of the first half Rainbows coach Jose' Borg was expelled for dissent with his team forging ahead in first minute of added time. It was Faria the supplier who sent a perfect cross from the left with Alex Nilsson rising high and heading in the corner of the net.
In the second half Tarxien moved more personnel forward in order to try and kill the game. Just off the hour Faria's shot sailed over the bar. And a minute late a Paolucci grounder was saved by Vella.
Pieta replied with a shot by Mensah which was partially saved by Cassar and from the rebound Chimezie slotted home only to be flagged offside and his joy was short lived.
But in the 68th minute Tarxien doubled their lead. Degabriele brought down Nilsson in the area and from the penalty that ensued Michele Paolucci made no mistake.
The Rainbows were now in total control and in the 71st minute Vella saved on Wemmer. With Tarxien sealing the issue on 74 minutes when a Wemmer shot was deflected by a defender in Michele Paolucci's path with the latter shooting low past a helpless Vella.
In stoppage time Pieta were unlucky not to score a consolation goal but Agius was denied by the woodwork.