Tarxien Rainbows 1

Mqabba 0

Karl Pulo turned a hero for Tarxien Rainbows yesterday evening. He entered the field as a substitute on 77 minutes and two minutes later he scored what proved to be the winner.

The goal was enough to give the Rainbows three valuable points in their battle against relegation.

They now have 12 points, leaving Mqabba and Marsaxlokk at the bottom and overtaking Hamrun Spartans, apart from joining Moata on the 12 point mark. The latter and Hamrun, however, have a game in hand.

It was a richly deserved win for the Rainbows who dominated throughout.

In the first half, neither team showed superiority but Tarxien were always the better team with De Castro creating several anxious moments for the Mqabba defence.

Moreover, the Rainbows showed the better ideas in midfield where Costa and Anonam worked hard from the word go.

Despite playing against the wind, the Rainbows created the better chances and should have assured themselves earlier of the points.

Mqabba also had their few chances, but the boys in Red seemed to have preferred to operate on the counter attack.

However, they found a well organised Tarxien defence facing them and Mamic & Co never threatened the Rainbows’ goal seriously.

In the second half, Tarxien dominated as they launched an offensive in search of the goal which finally arrived 11 minutes from the end. At times, it was one-way traffic as they took complete control of midfield.

Mqabba found it difficult to get out of their half and Tarxien goalie Vella never had a decent shot to save.

Their penchant of playing at the back forced them to hand the initiative to the Rainbows and it was no surprise that they finally succumbed to a superior outfit.

On such form, Mqabba will certainly find it difficult to avoid the Drop.

The match was not even two minutes old, and Tarxien should have taken the lead. Off a Castro cross, De Castro’s close range shot was blocked by the goalie: the rebound, by Mayasi, hit a defender and went over the post for a corner.

In the 10th minute, from a Tanti corner, a melee ensued in front of the Mqabba goal, but Calleja saved Mayasi’s weak effort.

After a stale period, it was Mqabba’s Claudio Calleja who had a 20-metre effort going over the post.

Tarxien managed to find the net on the 28th minute when Bueno flicked home a Costa shot, but he was ruled offside.

Mqabba protested in vain for a penalty on 38 minutes when Mazzitelli was pushed in the area by De Castro. The referee, close to the action, waved play on.

Three minutes later, Mqabba threatened through a David Azzopardi effort which Vella turned to corner in style. From the same corner, a melee ensued in front of the Tarxien goal. After some blocked attempts, Claudio Calleja finally lifted his shot well over the bar to the relief of Tarxien.

In the 45th minute, Calleja did well to save a De Castro corner before Bueno could connect in front of goal.

Tarxien missed a great opportunity at the start of the second half. Bueno set Mayasi perfectly, but the Dane, completely unhindered and with only the goalie to beat, hit wide of the post to the dismay of the Rainbows’ fans.

Tarxien were unlucky not to open the scoring on the 63rd minute. Costa went past at least three Mqabba defenders on the right and crossed low for De Castro to hit a first timer which smacked against the crossbar with Calleja beaten.

Tarxien’s pressing continued incessantly and on 78 minutes, it was goalie Calleja who turned to corner a Timotic unfortunate back header.

But the Rainbows were rewarded for their efforts soon after when substitute Pulo, in his second minute on the field, flicked the ball past Calleja following a cross from Costa.

Tarxien R.: N. G. Vella, S. Sadowski, C. Mamo, R. Costa, J. Nzinga-Mayasi (A. Carabott), M. Tanti (K. Pulo), D. Mariano Bueno, LR De Castro, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, J. Grioli.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, R. Sammut, M. Bonnici, T. Branislav, J. Briffa, D. Azzopardi (C. Micallef), M. Potezika, C. Calleja, T. Mazitelli, JP Muscat (D. Fenech), B. Mamic.

Referee: M. Apap

Asst refs:W. Debattista, P. Apap.

4th official: A. Azzopardi.

Scorer: K. Pulo 79

Yellow cards: R. Sammut, LR De Castro, M. Potezika, J. Briffa, M. Bonnici,

Player of the match: LR De Castro

TMI Top 3: 1. LR De Castro, 2. C. Calleja, 3. O. Anonam.

Attendance: 303