Tarxien R. 3

Mqabba 2

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, S. Sadowski (C. Sammut), M. Caruana (J. Vella), E. Pereira, S. Giglio, R. Galvao, K. Pulo (A. Carabott), D. Bueno, O. Anonam, G. Suguino, J. Grioli

Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Briffa, D. Azzopardi, T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat, M. Bonnici, R. Sammut, R. Duca, S. Magro

Referee: P. Caruana

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, J. Camilleri

4th official: M. Spiteri

Scorers: D. Bueno 6, 14, O. Anonam 20, T. Mazitelli 21, 48 pen

Yellow cards: G. Suguino, K. Pulo, P. Grima, S. Giglio, O. Anonam, M. Bonnici, M. Briffa

Player of the match: Daniel Bueno (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. K. Calleja 2. R. Galvao 3. T. Mazitelli

Tarxien Rainbows, trying to adapt to life after Noel Coleiro with new coach Patrick Curmi at the helm, managed to pull off their second win of the season against the league’s surprise side Mqabba.

The change in coach did not bring any novelties in the Tarxien set up, although they had Brazilian Ricardo Costa suspended for this match, with Bueno back after suspension.

Tarxien could not have dreamt of a better start, having taken a three-goal lead by the first 20 minutes and looked cruising to a comfortable win.

But then they allowed Mqabba to pull themselves back into the game with a Mazitelli brace, one from a direct free kick in the first half and another from a penalty soon after the interval. Mqabba could have even taken a draw as they looked menacing in the late stages, but they were found wanting in their finishing.

Mqabba were depleted, bereft of five suspended regulars in the likes of Mamic, Timotic, Potezika, Psaila and Micallef. Mauro Bonnici made his return from injury, playing in front of the defence.

Tarxien opened the account as early as the sixth minute and short of the quarter hour they had already doubled their lead through a Daniel Bueno brace.

Galvao was pressed by two defenders inside the Mqabba area on the right and as the ball rolled freely and invitingly to the unmarked Bueno, he slotted it past the helpless keeper Calleja.

Within eight minutes, Mqabba conceded a second after their defence failed to clear a Suguino corner and after many headed efforts, Bueno rose high to head in from close range.

With Mqabba’s defence in disarray, Grima dropped the ball in Galvao’s feet but his effort was footed out by keeper Calleja. A minute later, Caruana’s shot on a Seguino free kick was again parried by the Mqabba keeper, with Sammut’s headed clearance clipping the bar.

On 20 minutes, Calleja was rendered helpless from Orosco Anonam’s header on a Pulo corner from the right, with Tarxien going three goals up.

Mqabba pulled one back a minute later. Muscat was fouled on the edge of the area on the left and Thiago Mazitelli beat the inoperative keeper Cassar with a direct free kick.

Although the match lost much of its fervour, Bueno went close of notching his hat-trick past the half hour, coming face to face with Calleja inside the area, but the Mqabba keeper foiled him once again, turning into a corner.

Mqabba were handed a lifeline three minutes into the second half when Giglio’s tackle on Briffa looked legitimate but the referee deemed it otherwise and awarded Mqabba a penalty which Thiago Mazitelli tucked away.

Tarxien were forced to substitute the injured Sadowski on 55 minutes and on 63 minutes Galvao ran past the onrushing keeper inside the Mqabba area, crossed low for Pulo, whose feeble effort was cleared off the line by Sammut.

With Tarxien failing to regain their rhythm, Mqabba twice went very close to an equaliser in the last quarter hour.

On 73 minutes a Mazitelli free kick from outside the area brought a smart save from keeper Cassar who turned into a corner. And three minutes later, Muscat, in front of goal, found the ball at his feet on a Mazitelli pass, but he mishit horrendously and the Tarxien keeper could block as the chance went begging.