Tarxien R: N. Vella, S. Sadowski, C. Mamo, M. Caruana, J. Grioli, R. Bajada (A. Agius), D. Meira (M. Tanti), A. Esposito, K. Pulo (S. Bonnici), R. Sammut, D. Bueno
Mosta: J. Haber, F. Apap, B. Agius (S. Bezzina), M. Micallef, L. Dimech, R. Grech, J. Bajada (A. Cini), D. Mitev, C. Campagnoli, O. Obiefule (D. Maia Dos Santos), O. Zongo
Referee: P. Caruana
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, A. Borg Cardona
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: D. Bueno 7 pen, D. Meira 58
Yellow cards: F. Apap, J. Grioli, A. Esposito, J. Bajada, C. Mamo, M. Caruana
Player of the match: A. Esposito (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Esposito 2. D. Meira 3. C. Campagnoli
Attendance: 566
Mosta’s positive run of four consecutive wins came to a halt yesterday as they were undone by Tarxien Rainbows with a goal in each half.
Inspired by their three foreigners, Bueno, Meira and Esposito, Tarxien played with more purpose and togetherness to achieve their success.
Mosta were a bunch of individuals, with some of their key players, like Obiefule, Mitev and Zongo performing below par. They were second best throughout and Tarxien richly deserved this win at the end.
The teams went into the match with contrasting fortunes. Mosta were on a fine run of four consecutive wins. Tarxien had been torn apart by Birkirkara 4-1 in the previous match.
Mosta had forward Aboulezz suspended and with Bogdanovic still out injured, their attack was further bluinted yesterday.
Tarxien were also without central defender Evaldo Silva Dos Santos for the same reason. Joanathan Bajada was given a start for Mosta.
Tarxien also had David Fenech out with injury as Manuel Caruana and Steve Sadowski were given starts in defence and Karl Pulo started ahead of Mark Tanti in midfield. Nicholas Vella replaced David Casssar in goal.
Tarxien’s rotation looked to have paid dividends in the first half as they capitalised on their opponents’ shaky start to take an early lead after only seven minutes.
That came courtesy of a Daniel Bueno penalty, awarded to the Rainbows after defender Apap felled Meira inside the area on the left.
Three minutes later, Tarxien almost doubled their lead. Keeper Haber was rendered helpless b y Pulo’s lob after Micallef had failed to clear, but Apap blocked on the line.
Mosta took long to settle into the game. Zongos’ free kick from the left towards the half hour failed to find the target or trouble keeper Vella in any way. But the Tarxien keeper was tested on 39 minutes, turning into a corner Obiefule’s header on a Micallef cross.
That was too little for inept Mosta during the first 45 minutes. The pattern of the game did not change much after the restart as Mosta looked unlikely to improve and on 51 minutes, from an Esposito corner, Grioli’s header was turned into a corner by the busier keeper Haber.
Mosta had what looked like legitimate claims for a penalty turned down by the referee on 55 minutes when Grech was held by Grioli inside the Tarxien area, shortly before Tarxien scored their second three minutes later.
Esposito delivered a free kick from the left for Danilo Meira to head past Haber.
The points looked secure for the Rainbows, moreso because Mosta remained flat, short of ideas and above all lacked genuine committment. Coach D’Amato deemed it fit to withdraw Obiefule, only a peripheral figure in their attack yesterday, and Bajada but that changed nothing as Tarxien remained composed at the back but fast on the break. Ten minutes from time, Tanti replaced Meira as Bueno moved as their main striker.
In added time, Tarxien broke down with three players against a Mosta defender. Esposito played the ball square for Sammut whose shot was turned into a corner by keeper Haber to save his side from further derision.
On this evidence, Tarxien should not be discouraged from making it with the top six.