Tarxien R: A. Curmi, S. Sadowski (L. Galea), D. Camilleri, E. Pereira, M. Tanti, A. Decesare, W. Chircop (J. Shead), L. Vella Critien, D. Dos Santos, R. Mintoff, K. Magro (G. Calabretta)
Birkirkara: J. Mora, A. Scicluna, T. Paris, P. Fenech, T. Cilia, M. Galea (A. Tabone), R. Hartvig, S. Comvalius (A. Buhagiar), S. Bajada, J. Zerafa, G. Mallia (C. Pulo)
Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, M. Mercieca 4th official: Ms E. Azzopardi
Scorers: M. Galea, G. Mallia
Yellow cards: S. Bajada, S. Sadowski, W. Chircop
Player of the match: D. Rocha Dos Santos (Tarxien R)
TMI top three: 1. D. Da Silva 2. E. Pereira 3. T. Cilia
Tarxien Rainbows may rightly claim that their team did not deserve to lose yesterday after dominating possession and creating the better chances throughout against Birkirkara.
On this evidence, their strikers were culpably profligate as they spurned a hatful of chances, although they were denied at least one penalty and also hit the post in the second half.
For a long time, Birkirkara were a distant second best in all aspects of the game, devoid of creativity in midfield and punch in attack. Michael Galea and Comvalius (although between them they procured the first goal) were so ignominous, that they were both substituted in the second half.
Their goals were well timed though. The first in the opening stages and the second with less than a quarter hour to go. In between Tarxien ran the show.
Tarxien made four changes from the side which beat Dingli Swallows in the first match, giving starts to the returning Andrew Decesare and Mark Tanti as well as to Luke Vella Critien and Kurt Magro. Their Brazilian forward Ribeiro, scorer of two goals in the first match, was suspended. Warren Chircop and Rocha Da Silva were the most advanced players with Vella Critien wide behind them on the right.
By contrast, Birkirkara retained the same starting line-up as against Valletta and were one up after only 11 minutes. Mallia threaded a pass towards Michael Galea who advanced to beat keeper Curmi.
The goal sparked an immediate response from Tarxien who caused several anxious moments for the Birkirkara defence. Again, their execution of free kicks was of good quality. Camilleri sent a low one just wide and another from Decesare was palmed out by keeper Mora.
Past the quarter hour, Chircop fell inside the area when coming into contact with Paris as he tried to connect to Vella Critien's low cross. Any claims for a penalty went unheeded by the referee who was quite near the action.
Midway through the half, Vella Critien found himself unmolested in front of goal on Chircop's cross, but he shot wastefully wide with only the keeper to beat.
Then Camilleri played a free kick short to Decesare whose shot was deflected into a corner.
For all their efforts and commitment, Tarxien deserved an equaliser, but by halftime they still trailed by Birkirkara's opening goal.
The pattern of the game did not change much in the second half. Tarxien put in Calabretta for Magro and held the initiative for long stretches but kept squandering chances. Chircop's shot on the turn went off target and Pereira drilled a free kick which keeper Mora fisted out.
On 52 minutes, Tarxien were blatantly denied a penalty when Vella Critien was bundled by Hartvig inside the area. Towards the hour Calabretta advanced on the left and shot from a tight angle, hitting the foot of the post and another Da Silva headed effort was blocked by the Birkirkara keeper.
But the danger of prolonged offensive play is the chance you can always get caught on the break. This was epitomised 13 minutes from time when a Cilia cross from the right was headed in at the far post by George Mallia to pilfer the points for Birkirkara.