Tarxien Rainbows 1

Valletta 4

Apart from the scoreline, which flatters them, the main talking point about Valletta’s win against Tarxien Rainbows yesterday was the sending off of Brazilian Suguino soon after the restart, leaving Tarxien to play with ten men for almost the whole of the second half.

Tarxien may feel aggrieved by the referee’s harsh decision on 54 minutes which was the match’s turning point. The returning Suguino, who had been already booked for time wasting before the half hour, with the scoreline 1-1, fell under Barbosa’s challenge outside the Valletta area and was given a second caution for apparent simulation. That earned the Tarxien player an automatic dismissal.

Valletta immediately capitalised, scoring two goals within as many minutes to put the issue beyond doubt. Tarxien were completely outplayed and outfought after that and Denni Dos Santos helped himself to a hat-trick with his side’s fourth goal in the dying minutes.

Valletta have increased their lead to four points over nearest challengers Hibernians.

In the first half, the leaders had struggled to breach Tarxien’s organised defence, depite the absence of Giglio and Sadowski. The Rainbows traded equal punches and had also managed to cancel out Valletta’ early lead with an equaliser midway through the half.

Valletta were bereft of Jonathan Caruana in defence and Steve Borg and Ian Azzopardi were the Citizens’ two central defenders, with Dyson Falzon as their left back.

Barbosa played in a much retreated position in front of the defence, alongside Edmond Agius. Zongo, who scored one of Valletta’s goals in the previous match against Marsaxlokk, was given a start. Michael Mifsud also returned in attack but failed to end his goal drought. Jamie Pace, Ryan Fenech and Alfred Effiong went in as substitutes in the second half.

Although beaten by Sliema Wanderers in the previous outing, Tarxien went into this match with some self belief.

Valletta, as expected, dominated possession in the early stages but Valletta’s keeper Hogg was the first to be tested after ten minutes. He had to stretch himself to hold out Bueno’s grounder from the left.

Past the quarter hour, Denni sent an inviting ball across the face of the Tarxien goal. With no one connecting, the ball fell to the advancing Edmond Agius, whose effort was blocked into a corner by Suguino.

That was the prelude to Valletta’s goal on 18 minutes. Zongo won the ball in a challenge with his opponent inside the area. He crossed low for the unattended Denni Dos Santos to score with a routine tap in.

It was a sloppy goal to concede by Tarxien but, to their credit, they were not demoralised.

In fact they kept fighting gamely and managed to draw level on 26 minutes. Adrian Carabott, given a rare start, took the ball in his stride inside the Valletta area, turned to shrug off Borg’s marking to beat keeper Hogg with a low drive.

Past the half hour, Zongo put Mifsud through inside the area. The latter crossed low for Gilbert Agius who hit wastefully wide from a promising position.

It was still level at halftime though.

But nine minutes into the second half, Tarxien were down to ten men, following Suguino’s debateable dismissal and Valletta did not take long to make their numerical superiority count and scored three more goals and leave no doubt about the final outcome.

After a Denni shot demanded a smart save from keeper Cassar into a corner, the Tarxien custodian was rendered helpless on 63 minutes.

Falzon won a tackle outside the area, played the ball to Zongo who scored with a low shot.

Two minutes later, Valletta scored their third. Falzon again ran through the Tarxien defence, played the ball wide to the unmarked Denni to beat keeper Cassar once more.

Many feared a goal deluge, but Valletta somehow eased down and effected all their three substitutions as they remained firmly in command.

On 73 minutes keeper Hogg rushed out to thwart Bueno as he chased a long ball forward by Pereira.

But Tarxien knew that their time was up and were further handicapped by the injured Anonam’s forced substitutions ten minutes from the end.

There was still time however for Valletta to score their fourth goal. With three minutes remaining, Gilbert Agius provided the cross from the right for substitute Effiong whose effort fell in the way of Denni to complete his hat-trick.

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, C. Sammut, E. Pereira, A. Carabott, K. Pulo, D. Bueno, J. Vella, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, C. Suguino, J. Grioli

Coach: P. Curmi

Valletta: A. Hogg, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, E. Agius (A. Effiong), G. Agius, D. Dos Santos, O. Zongo (J. Pace), W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud (R. Fenech), D. Falzon

Coach: J. Zerafa

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, R. Vella

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 18, 65, 87, A. Carabott 26, O. Zongo 63

Yellow cards: C. Suguino, I. Azzopardi, D. Falzon

Red card: C. Suguino

Player of the match: D. Dos Santos (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Falzon 2. D. Dos Santos 3. A. Carabott

Attendance: 789