Tarxien R. 1
Vittoriosa S. 0
Tarxien R: A. Curmi, S. Sadowski, E. Pereira, G. Calabretta (R. Grech), R. Costa, C. Dos Santos Rodrigues, M. Tanti (J. Vella), L. Vella Crittien, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, J. Grioli (S. Hili)
Vittoriosa S: S. Agius, C. Sammut (M. Brincat), J. Camilleri (R. Sell), S. Pace, J. Chetcuti, C. Compagnoli, E. Luis Dos Santos, J. Xerri, J. Santos Silva, A. Ewurum, S.Wellman
Referee: G. Tonna asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard 4th official: P. Caruana
Scorers: R. Costa
Yellow cards: J. Grioli, S. Hili
Player of the match: Simon Agius (Vittoriosa S)
TMI top three: 1. O. Anonam 2. S. Agius 3. G. Calabretta
Tarxien Rainbows laboured hard to earn their first Premier League win of the season. A late goal by their Brazilian forward Ricardo Costa earned them the three points as other Brazilian Cristaiano Dos Santos Rodrigues even contrived to miss a penalty earlier.
In fact Vittoriosa goalkeeper Simon Agius made a string of fine saves in the second half to deny the Rainbows time and again.
The match was much bottom-of-the-table stuff with the sides seperated by only one point before kick-off.
This third consecutive defeat leaves the Stars winless and pointless at the bottom of the standings.
Vittoriosa coach Winston Muscat deemed it fit to make changes in defence, following their 4-2 defeat against Qormi. Clayton Micallef and Pierre Aquilina were dropped, with Jonathan Xerri starting as right back and the returning Wellman joining Sharlon Pace as centre backs. In the absence of Kevin Mifsud and Dino Cachia, Jeffrey Chetcuti played in front of the defence, with Brazilian Compagnoli returning in midfield after suspension and Carl Sammut also given a starting berth as wide midfielder on the left.
Tarxien had Manuel Caruana and Julian Vella on the bench, with Sadowski and Vella Critien playing instead.
The wing play of Calabretta, who started the match, gave the Rainbows some impetus on the left as they looked the livelier side in the initial stages. His effort towards the quarter hour sailed wide and a Pereira direct free kick went over.
Towards the half hour, on a Calabretta cross, Grioli had his effort blocked for Costa to head the rebound and keeper Agius tipped the ball over the bar into a corner.
Seconds earlier, Vittoriosa could have also gone in front. Santos Silva did the good work on the right, crossed low for Edison, whose shot on the turn inside the ten-yard box, was blocked by the Tarxien defenders.
Before halftime, Grioli sent a low ball across the face of the Vittoriosa goal, but found nobody to connect and Xerri cleared into safety.
Unfortunately, things did not improve much after the restart. Tarxien remained slightly better on the ball but lacked the slightest hint on penetration in front of the Vittoriosa goal. Costa shot Calabretta’s corner slightly over and on 68 minutes, keeper Agius held out Calabretta’s effort, with the ball hitting the bar.
A minute later, Ewurum felled Costa inside the area but keeper Agius guessed right and blocked Rodrigues’ central shot from the penalty spot.
The Vittorisoa shot stopper was kept busy as he was called to save another Pereira meaty free kick on 78 minutes.
But five minutes from the end, Tarxien finally broke the deadlock with their winning goal. Ricardo Costa picked Anonam’s pass and finally beat Agius with a low drive.
Costa almost committed an own goal on the stroke of time as he tried to clear a Brincat free kick but the ball was held out by the post.