Valletta 3
Tarxien R. 1
Simon Farrugia
Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, S. Dimech, K. Nwoko, J. Borg, E. Pena Beltre, J. Zerafa, D. Packer (N.Pulis 69'), R. Muscat, I. Dzaria (M.Piciollo 75'), M. Fontanella (R.Tonna 90')
Tarxien R.: R. Briffa, M. Botta, T. Veronese, P. Mambouana, M. Torres Murillo, A. Andrejic, G. Camilleri (D.Vassallo 84'), S. Shaba, N. Portelli, B. Farrugia (M. Ciantar 69'), M. Miranda Gomez
Referee: Olsid Ferataj (Albania)
Yellow Cards: Shaba, Zerafa
Scorers: Nwoko 14', Fontanella 56', Packer 65' (Valletta), Shaba 79' (Tarxien R.)
TMI Top 3 : 1. M. Fontanella 2. I. Dzaria 3. T. Veronese
Valletta registeted a comfortable win against basement side Tarxien Rainbows when in the second match played at the Centenary Stadium they emerged 3-1 winners.
The match was dominated for long stretches by Valletta who ventured forward with ease though they are still far away from being at their best.
The Citizens failed to impress in recent outings where they won just three out of the seven matches played so far. The expected win against Tarxien will surely boost their morale for the upcoming matches.
Valletta went into this match following a narrow win against Gudja United with their coach Darren Abdilla effecting three changes from that match. In came Kyrian Nwoko, Shaun Dimech and Jean Borg instead of Bojan Kaljevic, Kevin Tulimieri and Ryan Camilleri.
Tarxien Rainbows who lost their last match against Balzan made one change, Gary Camilleri taking Matthew Tabone's place.
But to date more was expected from the reigning Champions who are finding the going tougher and the convincing performances and wins are yet to come.
Tarxien, on the other hand, remain anchored at the bottom of the table without no points at all. The Rainbows are finding it very difficult to find the opposing net where they scored just eight goals in their eight matches played.
As early as the sixth minute Valletta found the net through Dzaria but their goal was disallowed for an offside position.
But they took the lead in the 14th minute through Kyrian Nwoko with the Valletta striker slotting the ball home past Briffa.
Two minutes later Tarxien responded through a Thomas Veronese free kick which found Andrejic but though well positioned sent his shot wide.
Valletta were controlling well the proceedings and on the change of ends they doubled the score. It was the 56th minute when Mario Fontanella received a ball in the opposing area with his shot on the turn finding a way past Briffa.
Nine minutes later and the Citizens put the issue beyond doubt. This time it was Douglas Packer's turn to find the net when from the edge of the area he lobbed over the Rainbows goalkeeper.
Tarxien reacted and in the 76th minute. Andrejic tried a long distance shot on seeing Bonello out of position with the Valletta goalkeeper turning with some difficulty into a corner.
The Rainbows finally scored a consolation goal through Stiv Shaba when in the 78th minute off a Veronese cross he headed past Bonello.
Though finding the net Tarxien were never a threat for the reigning Champions who thus gained three valuable points in their quest to climb up the ladder.
