With only points rather than prizes at stake, Tarxien Rainbows came away at a canter, beating Hamrun Spartans convincingly to halt a negative streak of five winless matches, collecting only one point in the process.
Tarxien’s defence was composed and well organised, stifling many of Hamrun’s attacks as the forwards were often caught in an offside position.
The Rainbows midfield play was fluid, carving several gaps in the opposing defence. Their finishing was clinical, and with their Brazilian forwards always looking more penetrative, Ricardo Costa scored a brace while Bueno and Pacheco helped themselves with a goal each for a 4-1 victory.
Hamrun’s defence, which included Vukanic, back from suspension, as Roderick Fenech was relegated to the bench, leaked water on four occasions and could have suffered more goals were it not for some good goalkeeping from Omar Borg. But they also created enough chances to score more than once. Often they fluffed them or were denied by the opposing custodian David Cassar in the Tarxien goal.
In fact it was quite an open game. With three goals within the first quarter hour, the match provided an entertaining fare.
By the first eight minutes, there were two chances at each end. Spiteri shot slightly over from a distance. Tarxien’s first genuine attack gave them the lead. Calabretta’s shot was deflected against the side netting into a corner. Calabretta’s corner was headed towards goal by Daniel Bueno. The ball hit the underside of the bar and despite Agius’ clearance on the line, assistant Mercieca allowed the goal to stand.
Tarxien doubled their lead on 14 minutes. Bueno headed the ball down for Sergio Pacheco to beat keeper Borg with a spectacular volley.
To their credit, Hamrun were not demorilised and pulled one back hardly a minute later. Pereira played the ball wide to the unmarked Dene Shields to hit low past keeper Cassar.
Hamrun kept pressing forward and on 22 minutes Pereira had his shot blocked into a corner. From the resultant corner, Vella Critien again cleared off the line Shields’ goalbound effort, with the keeper beaten.
But the goal came at the other end towards the half hour. Ricardo Costa headed in Calabretta’s cross from the right for Tarxien to restore their two-goal cushion.
Hamrun were unlucky not to reduce the arrears before the half was over. Agius played the ball wide to Shields. This time keeper Cassar blocked his shot.
The Tarxien shot stopper produced a smart save, palming Spiteri’s header against the innerside of the post, but the ball did not cross the line.
Tarxien settled the issue within one minute of resumption. Ricardo Costa picked Bueno’s pass and scored his second with a rising shot from the edge of the area.
Hamrun laboured to rally. Grima’s curling free kick was turned into a corner by keeper Cassar, who also denied Shields on the hour.
In between, Tarxien threatened again with a powerful Costa free kick, blocked by the grounded keeper Borg and the Brazilian had his effort going inches wide on 72 minutes.
Two minutes later, Shields almost capitalised on Galea’s short clearance, but was blocked by keeper Cassar when clear inside the area.
Ten minutes from time, Calabretta also missed a similar glaring opportunity for Tarxien, beating the Hamrun defence but missing the target, with only the keeper to beat.
But luckily the Rainbows were already home and dry by then.
Hamrun S O. Borg, J. Vukanic, D. Milovic, M. Grima, D. Camilleri (K. Magro), L. Agius, R. Mangion, D. Falzon, G. Spiteri (M. Mifsud), M. Pereira (D. Kokavessis), D. Shields
Coach S. D’Amato
Tarxien R D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, E. Pereira, G. Calabretta, R. Costa, S. Pacheco (J. Vella), D. Bueno (C. Rodriguez), L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam (R. Mintoff), L. Galea
Coach N. Coleiro
Referee E. Azzopardi
Asst.refs E. Spiteri, M. Mercieca
4th official G. Tonna
Scorers D. Bueno 9, S. Pacheco 14, D. Shields 15, R. Costa 27, 46
Yellow cards L. Agius, S. Sadowski, M. Grima
Player of the match Ricardo Costa (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3 1. R. Costa 2. L. Vella Critien 3. L. Agius