Tarxien R-Birkirkara 0-0

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, E. Pereira, G. Calabretta (S. Hili), C. Rodriguez, S. Pacheco, M. Tanti (J. Grioli), L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, L. Galea

Birkirkara: M. Fraser, A. Buhagiar (N. Vukanac), P. Borg, J. Zerafa, S. Bajada (R. Kumbrevicius), R. Muscat, P. Fenech, A. Agius, E. Lattes, M. Galea, I. Babatunde (K. Pulo)

Referee: K. Azzopardi asst.refs: K. Borg, M. Mercieca 4th official: E. Azzopardi

Yellow cards: O. Anonam, A. Agius, G. Calabretta, P. Borg, P. Fenech, R. Mintoff

Player of the match: E. Lattes (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. S. Bajada 2. J. Zerafa 3. E. Pereira

Two disjointed teams offered very little in terms of entertainment, producing a drab goalless draw that sees them lose further ground.

By virtue of this point, Birkirkara join Floriana in third place but it served little purpose to keep them in touch with the leaders.

Tarxien Rainbows, now seven points adrift of leaders Valletta, seem to be running out of steam. They have only won one of their last five league matches, collecting six points out of a possible 15. It says something that during the entire match yesterday, the Birkirkara custodian Michael Fraser was never severely tested. If Tarxien carried little threat overall, Birkirkara were equally impotent going forward, although they looked the more likely to score, especially in the second half.

Both teams were expected to show some improvement after defeats in the previous outings, but more was promised than delivered.

Nigerian forward Ibrahim Babatunde made his return to Premier football as he was given a start in the Stripes’ line-up, with Brazilian Kumbrevicius making way. Babatunde played for 77 minutes during which he had a blocked shot and a tame header over the bar.

Birkirkara’s defence also included Joseph Zerafa and Patrick Borg, who missed the previous game. Vukanac, who had been initially named among the substitutes, went in for the injured Angus Buhagiar past the quarter hour.

That was when Birkirkara put their first shot on target as Bajada drilled a powerful freekick which keeper Cassar held out. Buhagiar was injured when he collided with the keeper and had to be stretchered off.

On 36 minutes, in one of their rare forays inside enemy territory, Birkirkara threatened when Agius played the ball wide to Fenech whose deep cross was met by Lattes at the far end. Keeper Cassar blocked.

Tarxien, with Mariano Bueno suspended and Ricardo Costa on the bench, were anemic going forward but, with half time looming, Birkirkara’s defender Agius was dispossessed by Rodriguez inside the area, crossed low but Borg cleared before Tanti could connect.

The latter was also stretchered off before the half was over and was substituted by Justin Grioli for the second half.

Birkirkara showed more willingness to go forward although with little purpose. Towards the hour, Bajada went past Pacheco and Vella Critien from the left but put his low shot wide.

Babatunde was clear on the right, when Sadowski failed to clear a through ball, but keeper Cassar rushed off his line to smother the danger.

On 66 minutes, Lattes’ cross from the right fell to the unmarked Vukanac. His effort was blocked by Vella Critien and Babatunde’s second attempt on the rebound was also blocked by the Tarxien defence.

The Rainbows looked likely to buckle as the Stripes started belatedly to mount some sustained pressure, after putting in Karl Pulo for Babatunde. Keeper Cassar fisted out Bajada’s free kick.

But Birkirkara were unable to capitalise on their greater share of possession. Galea lacked coordination when he tried to connect on Pulo’s cross and keeper Cassar could save, with a barren stalemate prevailing at the end.