Tarxien R.-Rabat A. 0-1

Tarxien R: N. Vella, M. Caruana (K. Pulo), F. Lopez Alcantara, A. Agius, L. Martinelli, R. Calheira, M. Ciantar (R. Sammut), Ev erton, J. Mifsud, S. Bonnici, J. Silva

Rabat A: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, D. Falzon, I. Carapaic, C. Gauci, D. Pendas, D. Pelaez, A. Smeir (M. Licari), M. Avila Perez, J. Bajada (R. Micallef)

Referee: P. Farrugia

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, E. Spiteri

4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: C. Pendas 84

Yellow cards: L. Martinelli, F. Lopez Alcantara, D. Pendas, M. Avila Perez, A. Agius, J. Bajada

Red card: F. Lopez Alcantara

Player of the match: J.Silva (Tarxien R)

TMI top three: 1. P. Velimirovic  2. J. Silva  3. L. Martinelli

SILVIO VELLA

Rabat Ajax’s second half performance secured their first league win and points this season with a late Carillo Pendas goal, six minutes from time, against ten-man Tarxien Rainbows, who had central defender Lopez Alcantara sent off for two bookings shortly past the hour.

Tarxien were slightly the better side in the first 45 minutes but failed to breach the Premier League’s worst defence, thanks mainly to some superlative goalkeeping from Rabat’s Montenegrin  Pavle  Velimirovic.

Unable to maintain the same rhythm, Tarxien paid the price in the second half as Calheira and Everton fizzled out after a lively first half performance.

This first match of the afternoon at the Victor Tedesco stadium brought with it a sleepy start to proceedings, with both sides fragmented in their build-up and struggling to generate any cohesive pattern of play.

Tarxien had Manuel Caruana back in their starting line-up after injury but his playing time lasted only 18 minutes as he was forced to leave the pitch. The unfit Carlo Mamo was absent.

Rabat recovered Jonathan Bajada, replacing Patrick Borg, to give his side some more width on the right flank.

Neither side however could impose themselves on the match although Rabat were lucky not to fall behind after four minutes when Tarxien engineered the game’s first opportunity and a golden one at that. Calheira went past Falzon inside the area on the left. His inswinging shot hit the innerside of the upright and rebounded into play.

Rabat, who had won a couple of unproductive corners, looked menacing midway through the half. A Pendas cross from the left almost caused panic inside the Tarxien area after keeper Vella dropped the ball when challenged by Bajada, but the danger was cleared.

Tarxien, with Jorge Silva moving in central midfield, after the introduction of Karl Pulo for Caruana, showed superiority for the second part of the half. On 26 minutes Calheira beat Rabat’s offside trap, crossed from the left for the unmarked Jorge Silva to shoot at goal but keeper Velimirovic saved into a corner. Past the half hour, Rabat’s scrappy clearance enabled Ciantar to shoot, but his effort was blocked into another corner by the Rabat keeper.

Rabat were lucky it was still goalless at halftime. But they emerged with a spring in their feet after the interval, stepping up a gear to push their opponents into their own half.

Pendas was the first to severely test the Tarxien keeper with a meaty free kick from outside the area and on the hour, Smeir’s shot on Pendas’ cross lacked enough power and keeper Vella could save.

Tarxien suffered a setback three minutes later. Their central defender Lopez Alcantara fouled Pendas, as he made his way towards goal, to collect his second booking of the match and eventual dismissal.

Rabat almost exploited their numerical superiority immediately. From the resultant Palaez direct free kick, keeper Vella smartly tipped the ball into a corner,the ball hitting the bar in the process.

Tarxien had lost much of their first half composure, although they remained dangerous going forward, with the forays of Martinelli from the left. On 75 minutes, Everton laid the ball square in the path of Jorge Silva whose  shot was just tipped over the bar by the Rabat keeper.

Under increasing pressure, Tarxien were caught completely out of sorts on Rabat’s goal, six minutes from the end. Carillo Pendas started the move, taking the ball in his stride and playing it wide to the anonymous Avila Perez, looking rusty up front, Pendas ran inside the Tarxien area to receive the return pass and coolly beat the goalkeeper with a low strike.

That proved very important as Rabat tasted victory after seven barren matches.