Hamrun S.-Tarxien R. 2-2
Hamrun S - I. Casha, M.A. Bonnici, R. Mangion, R. Fenech, M. Micallef, L.J. Agius, G. Spiteri (M. Barbara), M. Hrubsa, J. Mawete, C. Camoin, I. Zammit
Tarxien R - D. Cassar, S. Sadowski (K. Magro), M. Caruana, D. Camilleri, E. Pereira, A. Ribeiro (G. Calabretta), M. Tanti (A. Curmi), L. Vella Critien, D. Rocha Dos Santos, R. Mintoff, J. Grioli.
Referee - C. Lautier, Ass. Referees - E. Spiteri, W. Debattista, 4th official - E. Azzopardi
Scorers - D. Rocha Dos Santos 2, I. Zammit (pen)
Yellow cards - C. Camoin, I. Zammit, M. Tanti, J. Mawete, M. Caruana
Red card - D. Cassar
Player of the match - D.Rocha Dos Santos (Tarxien R.)
TMI best three - 1. D. Rocha Dos Santos 2. I. Zammit 3. M. Micallef
Hamrun Spartans bounced back from two goals down in the second half to obtain a point against Tarxien Rainbows.
Tarxien with a five star Denni Rocha Dos Santos dominated the first half building a deserved two-goal lead.
In the second half they relied too much on defence and the Spartans hit with an important penalty on the hour.
Against ten men the Spartans stormed and scored a deserved equaliser.
Tarxien took full command of the match from the early stages as they weaved their way past the Hamrun defence with swift attacks that ripped the Spartans' defence apart. After barely three minutes Mark Tanti was put through by Ribeiro and the Tarxien midfielder missed a sitter in front of Casha.
However two minutes later Tarxien forged ahead when Mark Tanti and David Camilleri swiftly exchanged the ball between them with the latter passing towards Denni Rocha Dos Santos who speeded towards goal and beat Casha with a precise grounder.
A minute later Hamrun had an immediate opportunity to obtain the equalizer when Mawete broke loose on the right flank but his grounder was well blocked by Cassar.
On 13 minutes Rcoha Dos Santos passed towards Mark Tanti whose effort was very weak and a good chance was wasted. Tarxien continued to dominate with their continous pressure from their forwards upsetting the Hamrun defenders. Rocha Dos Santos was creating havoc in the Hamrun defence with his speed and flair. On 18 minutes he outpaced Clyde Camoin but his shot slightly missed the base of the upright.
On 25 minutes Tarxien doubled the score when Mark Tanti passed towards Rocha Dos Santos who darted from midfield towards the Hamrun goal to beat Casha with another clinical finish.
Tarxien eased their pressure in the final minutes of the first half, as Hamrun roamed dangerously forward in search of a goal that would put them back in the match. The closest they went was on 40 minutes when Clyde Camoin almost scored direct from a corner with Steve Sadowski clearing the ball from the goal line.
Hamrun had a good opportunity on the resumption with Ian Zammit shooting well over the bar from an ideal position. Tarxien continued to play the waiting game in the second half with the Spartans going very close with a dangerous Ian Zammit header that was well saved by Cassar, and with a Mawete header that went inches wide.
The match had a twist on the hour when Mano Micallef was floored by goalkeeper Cassar, with referee Lautier justly awarding the penalty, but was rather harsh on sending off the Tarxien custodian. From the resultant penalty Ian Zammit scored his first goal with the Spartans' shirt beating reserve goalkeeper Curmi.
The Spartans were now playing better and on 67 minutes they drew level when Ian Zammit's cross from the right was met bi Mawete who fired in the roof of the net. On 73 minutes a good chance for Tarxien with substitute Magro hitting wide when well placed.
Ffiteen minutes from time Ian Zammit's shot slammed against the outer side of the upright.
Tarxien finished the match on the attack but Hamrun’s defence resisted to the onslaught.