Tarxien R.-Naxxar L 0-2

Tarxien R: A. Curmi, C. Mamo, F. Lopez Alcantara (M. Potezika), L. Martinelli, M. Caruana (C. Mendez), R. Calheira, M. Ciantar, Everton, R. Sammut (S. Bonnici), J. Mifsud, J. Silva

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, J. Ani (Y. Martinez de Oliveira), V. Bellia, A. Buhagiar, R. Cassar, G. Ribeiro (D. Falzon), A. Decesare, P. Doffo, A. Rocha Da Silva, T. Scerri (D. Bonnici), Evaldo

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official: M. Spiteri

Scorers: A. Buhagiar 74, T. Scerri 79

Yellow cards: J. Mifsud, A. Rocha Da Silva, L. Martinelli, T. Scerri

Red card: J. Mifsud

Player of the match: R. Gilmar (Naxxar L)

TMI top three: 1. Evaldo  2. J. Silva 3. B. Bellia

Tarxien Rainbows were very much in this match and fought gamely, showing slightly better ideas than Naxxar Lions for the first hour, that is, until their defender Josef Mifsud was shown a second yellow card and eventually sent off.

Even with a man less, keeper Anthony Curmi kept the Rainbows into the game with a penalty save off Andre Rocha Da Silva. Tarxien, however, were undone by two goals in quick succession that left them with nothing to show for all their efforts at the end.

This was Tarxien’s third defeat on the trot that leaves them in dire straits, having obtained  only three points from their last four matches.

With Floriana breathing down their necks for a sixth-place finish, Naxxar could not afford a slip against opponents in crisis. Yesterday they made the best of their numerical superiority to beat Tarxien without playing particularly well.

Following their defeat by Qormi in midweek, coach Winston Muscat deemed it fit to make four changes in his starting line-up. With the suspension of Thiago, the returning Pablo Doffo played as central defender, alongside Evaldo. Andrew Decesare was introduced as left back, together with Jeri Ani wide on the right to support Terence Scerri as their main striker. Zongo was relegated to the bench.

Tarxien welcomed Josef Mifsud and Miguel Ciantar back from suspension but Anthony Curmi kept his place in goal despite Nicky Vella’s availability. Manuel Caruana and Jorge Silva were given starts as Potezika was named among the substitutes. Midway through the half, the Rainbows were forced to substitute injured Ryan Sammut with Steve Bonnici.

With neither side managing to take control of the proceedings, the ball floated from one box to the other with little purpose. Naxxar’s build-ups were slow and rather predictable, with Bellia, Rocha Da Silva and Buhagiar unable to up the tempo. Gilmar should have done better after ten minutes when, put clear by Evaldo, shot feebly in the Tarxien keeper’s safe hands.

On their part, Tarxien were too erratic and gave away possession too cheaply. Ronallie Calheira was starved of service and substitute Steve Bonnici was involved in both Tarxien’s  noteworthy episodes of the first half. On 36 minutes, Martinelli crossed from the right, Jorge Silva’s shot was parried by Naxxar keeper Azzopardi but when Bonnici tried to make contact on the loose ball, he was ruled to be in an offside position by the assistant.

And in the half’s added time, Bonnici’s glancing header on Jorge Silva’s cross was saved by keeper Azzopardi.

Before that, Naxxar went close when Ani was presented with a good ball by Scerri but he lobbed it over the onrushing keeper Curmi and the bar.

Play did not improve much in the second half but at least the teams produced a more eventful 45 minutes. Naxxar keeper Azzopardi was called to block Jorge Silva’s shot from the left as Tarxien had the more attempts on goal.

But the Rainbows suffered a setback on 64 minutes, the first turning point of the match, as defender Mifsud was sent off for a second caution, leaving his side with ten men.

Still Tarxien were presented with a good opportunity four minutes later but Jorge Silva failed to put his effort on target after advancing down the left.

To rub salt into Tarxien’s wound, they conceded a penalty on 72 minutes, when Mamo fouled Rocha Da Silva inside the area. Tarxien’s coach Clive Mizzi was dismissed from the bench for protests before Da Silva’s central shot was saved into a corner by keeper Curmi. But from the resultant Doffo corner kick, Angus Buhagiar rose high to head firmly past the Tarxien keeper.

Naxxar doubled their lead and made the points safe on 79 minutes, courtesy of some ingenuity by Everton. Bellia robbed him of the ball inside the Tarxien area and crossed low for Terence Scerri to finish off with a routine strike.