Tarxien R-Birkirkara 1-3

Tarxien R: D. Casar, S. Sadowski (J. Vella), M. Caruana, E. Pereira, R. Costa (S. Hili), C. Rodriguez, S. Pacheco (A. Farrugia), L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam, L. Galea, J. Grioli

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

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst.refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: M. Galea 9, S. Pacheco 32 pen, E. Lattes 47, P. Fenech 77

Yellow cards: C. Rodriguez, J. Zerafa, P. Borg, J. Grioli

Player of the match: E. Lattes (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. P. Fenech 2. M. Galea 3. E. Lattes

Only last week, Tarxien and Birkirkara played a goalless draw between them. Yesterday, the champions finished up clear winners with a 3-1 victory that does not reflect enough their superiority, especially in the second half. They have now edged Tarxien to a laudable second place in the standings to keep some pressure on leaders Valletta.

All three Birkirkara goals were scored by their best players. Skipper Michael Galea paved the way with a spectacular early goal after nine minutes, and contributed to his side’s success with his intelligent positioning and running inside enemy territory, providing good service to his team mates.

Their work horse Paul Fenech was the inspiration of his team’s attacks, having a say in the first two goals and then himself scoring the third, showing confidence and maturity.

Argentine Emiliano Lattes continued to sparkle, even to scintillate with his running, and besides scoring Birkirkara’s second soon after the resumption, he threw most of the embarassment to the Rainbows defence.

Tarxien had Manuel Caruana, Justin Grioli and Ricardo Costa back in their starting line-up, although Tanti, Calabretta and Mintoff were suspended. But it was yet another disappointing performance for them which might give their coach Noel Coleiro some sleepless nights as the early season form has deserted them.

With their three attacking Brazilians performing below par, Tarxien carried little threat. That they were still 1-1 at halftime was already incredulous enough. The Rainbows were completely outfought and outplayed in almost all departments in the second period as they remain winless in seven matches.

The teams had not scored between them in the two previous matches this season. Michael Galea broke the jinx after nine minutes when he picked Fenech’s pass from outside the area and let fly a searing left footer, which tore into the top corner of the Tarxien net to give Birkirkara the lead.

Tarxien took some time to settle into the match. Babatunde headed Bajada’s cross narrowly wide.

Only when Tarxien finally dusted themselves past the half hour, they started to create some problems to the Birkirkara rearguard. Costa’s goal was disallowed for offside after Pereira’s free kick had caused havoc in the Stripes’ area.

On 32 minutes Rodriguez fell inside the area under Borg’s challenge to win a penalty which Sergio Pacheco converted to level matters before halftime.

But the second half belonged entirely to Birkirkara, as they dominated play and scored two more goals to clinch their deserved victory.

They retained the lead hardly two minutes after the restart. Fenech played the ball through the middle. Emiliano Lattes accelerated almost effortlessly through the centre of the Tarxien defence and shoot past the helpless Cassar.

On 52 minutes Vukanac, who started the match for the injured Angus Buhagiar, forced keeper Cassar into a smart save and from the resultant corner Agius clipped the upright to Cassar’s left.

Bajada was denied by another Cassar save after Galea played the dummy on an inviting Lattes cross from the left.

As Birkirkara were all over their opponents, they desperately needed to deliver the killer blow.

Lattes advanced inside the Tarxien area with relative ease, the Birkirkara defence cleared as far as Babatunde who shot narrowly off target.

But on 77 minutes, Birkirkara scored the assuring goal that earned them maximum points. Bajada laid the ball wide to the industrious Paul Fenech who advanced from the left and squeezed his diagonal shot past keeper Cassar.

Tarxien had been completely outdone by then and for the remaining minutes Birkirkara effected all their substitutions and played the ball in neat triangles between them, keeping the powder dry for sterner tests ahead.