Four first half goals dismantle Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk 2

Tarxien R. 4

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, M. Licari, C. Brincat, E. Yanchev, A. Spiteri, F. Raimy, G. Sciberras, R. Galabov (J. Alcorse), P. Pullicino (T. Templemann), M. Deanov, A. Effiong (R. Darmanin)

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, M. Caruana (S. Hili), E. Pereira, G. Calabretta, C. Rodriguez (A. Farrugia), S. Pacheco, D. Bueno, L. Vella Critien, J. Vella, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff

Referee: K. Azzopardi asst.refs: P. Agius, P. Apap 4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: S. Pacheco 11 pen, 28, D. Bueno 22, C. Rodriguez 41, J. Alcorse 81, 82

Yellow cards: T. Templemann

Player of the match: S. Pacheco (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. S. Pacheco 2. C. Rodriguez 3. D. Bueno

Attendance: 598

Marsaxlokk succumbed to a heavy defeat against Tarxien Rainbows that puts them out of contention for European competition next season. It was their second defeat on the trot after their reverse against Valletta the previous week, although quite unexpected against opponents who had only won once in the Championship Pool before.

Yesterday, Marsaxlokk were outfought and outplayed by their opponents, conceding four goals in the first half, that virtually decided the issue and there was always one outcome in the second half. Two late goals were only scant consolation for Marsaxlokk. What was disappointing about their performance was the ineptitude of their defending. Offered little protection by their midfielders, the back four were quite a distance off the pace.

Andrew Spiteri played as left back for the suspended Carlo Mamo and with Yanchev and Brincat the two centre backs, Galabov was deployed in midfield. They were worryingly vulnerable in the open stages against vibrant Tarxien, inspired by the power play of Brazilians Sergio Pacheco, Cristiano Rodriguez and Daniel Bueno as Ricardo Costa was relegated to the bench.

Tarxien were already three goals to the good before the half hour and any of Marsaxlokk’s early optimism had long dissipated as the game was played against a near-silent backdrop.

The tone of he game was set by 11 minutes, when Tarxien were awarded a soft penalty for Licari’s handling inside the area on a Pacheco cross attempt. The same Brazilian player made no mistake from the spot kick.

Tarxien were two up on 22 minutes. Daniel Bueno stretched his leg on a Calabretta cross, just enough to flick the ball over keeper Gauci. Hardly a minute later, Pacheco’s close header on Bueno’s cross was saved into a corner by the Marsaxlokk keeper as Tarxien laid siege.

There was no denying the Rainbows a third goal on 28 minutes though. Sergio Pacheco cut through the middle from the left, exchanged the leather with Rodriguez and beat the keeper with a low strike.

Tarxien fluffed a good chance on 38 minutes as defender Spiteri was caught against two players but Bueno lofted Rodriguez’s final pass from a promising situation.

Marsaxlokk were completely dismantled four minutes before the break. Mintoff played a long ball forward for Cristiano Rodriguez to chase and beat the static defence and the helpless Gauci for the fourth time.

Tarxien evidently eased down in the second half as Marsaxlokk were left chasing a lost cause.

Goalmouth action remained much at a premium as Marsaxlokk came up with tame efforts through a Galabov shot from a distance and a Deanov free kick which keeper Cassar handled with minimal difficulty.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Marsaxlokk effected a double substitution, putting in Ryan Darmanin and Julio Alcorse. The latter scored twice within a minute to reignite his side’s flickering hopes.

On 81 minutes, he got a feint touch to the ball, which Vella Critien tried to shield inside the Tarxien area, deflecting it past the goalkeeper and a minute later Alcorse again beat keeper Cassar with a rising shot from the edge of the area.

But Tarxien were not so naïve as to let a healthy lead slip away for the remaining eight minutes