Tarxien R. 2

Melita 0

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, C. Mamo, E. Silva Dos Santos, J. Grioli, R. Bajada, D. Meira (S. Bonnici), A. Esposito, M. Tanti (K. Pulo), D. Bueno, D. Fenech (A. Agius), O. Anonam

Melita: M. Sapiano, R. Alhino (M. Batel), I. Tupegdzic, G. Gribbon, M. Borg, L. Sammut (M. Martin), M. Sierra Camacho, A. Caruana Scicluna (K. Vella Petroni), L. Micallef, K. Micallef, H. Negrin

Referee: M. Borg

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official: P. Apap

Scorers: E. Silva Dos Santos 31, A. Esposito 62

Yellow cards: E. Silva Dos Santos, M. Sierra Camacho, A. Esposito

Red cards: M. Sierra Camacho

Player of match: Andre Esposito (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Esposito 2. R. Bajada 3. C. Mamo

Tarxien Rainbows’ progress under coach Clive Mizzi continued with a second consecutive win against newly promoted Melita, reduced to ten men for the last 24 minutes. Goals in either half were enough for the Rainbows to dismantle poor Melita, playing perhaps their worst game so far this season.

Tarxien were the better team in all departments. Their defence looked solid, with the towering presence of centre backs Evaldo and Anonam, with Mamo and Grioli overlapping on each flank. Melita needed more inventive to break it down and their bluntness in front of the opposing goal yesterday was one of their downfalls.

Melita were without Julian Galea and the suspended Jovan Vukanic, with Gribbon and Alhino making a return in their starting line-up.

Tarxien, who preferred Mark Tanti to Karl Pulo in their first eleven yesterday, played the more pleasing football, although they produced vey few shots on target. Esposito was highly involved in most of their build-ups and they still looked good value for their first half lead just past the half hour.

A Fenech deep cross was cleared by Borg before Meira could connect. That was the prelude to Tarxien’s opener. From Fenech’s corner, Evaldo rose high to head past keeper Sapiano.

Melita were poor and failed to put on a fight, unlike in their previous two matches. Kane Micallef’s execution of a free kick from the edge of the area in the early stages, was of the poorest quality and before halftime, Negrin should have done better after going inside the Tarxien area on Sammut’s pass, but lofted the ball from a promising position.

Melita effected a double substitution at the start of the second half, putting in Karl Vella Petroni and allowing Frenchman Maxime Batel to make his first appearance for them this season.

Tarxien kept toying with their opponents. Grioli’s cross from the right was unproductive and Fenech shot wastefully over. On 50 minutes, following Grioli’s free kick from the right, Anonam was blocked by the Melita keeper inside the area.

Melita carved out two good chances towards the hour. On a short Kane Micallef free kick, Camacho’s drilling shot ended narrowly off target. Then, on Vella Petroni’s cross, Sammut forced keeper Cassar to turn his header into a corner.

But on 62 minutes, the deficit doubled as Andre Esposito took the ball in his stride, advanced on the right and beat the Melita keeper with a low diagonal shot.

Four minutes later, Melita suffered a further setback. Their Spanish midfielder Sierra Camacho was sent off for a second caution, and their task grew the more laborious after that.

Tarxien showed little urgency, and effecting all their three substitutions, they defended their lead with minimal difficulty till the end.