Tarxien R.-Vittoriosa S. 0-3

Tarxien R: N. Vella, S. Sadowski, C. Mamo, M. Potezika (M. Ciantar), R. Calheira, W. Barbosa, C. Menendez, K. Pulo, J. Mifsud, S. Bonnici (L. Martinelli), J. Silva

Vittoriosa S: S. Cini, O. Sidibe, A. Spiteri, G. Martin (R. Mifsud), O. Guerrero, M. Garcia (F. Arriagada), M. Camilleri, M. Pereira, L. Vella Critien, F. Aguiar (Siraj Arab), Samir Arab

Referee:  A. M. Sant

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard

Additional asst.refs: M. Borg, G. Tonna

4th official: M. B org

Scorers: G. Martin 18, O. Guerrero 72 pen, M. Pereira 77

Yellow cards: S. Bonnici, M. Potezika, F. Aguiar, S. Arab, J. Silva

Player of the match: M. Pereira (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top three: 1. G. Martin  2. O. Sidibe  3. J. Silva

These two teams, struggling to find some form and consistency, played a two-all draw in the first round last October, with ten-man Vittoriosa salvaging a late point through Oscar Guerrero then.

Yesterday,  Vittoriosa were by far the more  superior team, showing better ideas and carving better chances that finally rewarded them with a deserved 3-0 win. They now lift themselves into ninth place in the standings, on equal points with Qormi and two above Tarxien Rainbows.

From that first encounter, the Stars made five changes, with keeper Jean Matias Vella, defender Ramon Dos Santos and midfielder Marcio Teruel since leaving the club. Sean Cini has now commanded a regular place in the Vittoriosa goal and Adam Spiteri yesterday started the match as Clive Brincat was named as a substitute. Central defender Ousmane Sidibe, wide back Luke Vellka Critien an d winger Mitogo Garcia replaced the absentees yesterday.

Tarxien did not change much from  that match. Steve Sadowski, Marko Potezika and Carlos Menendez  were given starts but the most notable newcomer yesterday was Brazilian defensive midfielder William Barbosa who just joined them from St Andrew’s last week.

All the running and physical endeavour gave the match a brisk start. The damage for Vittoriosa came from Tarxien’s wide player Jorge Silva but his insiduous crosses found little support. Central striker Ronallie Calheira was kept under check by Sidibe and Samir Arab.

The Stars relied on their new captain Marcelo Pereira, isolated up front, for goal. They crowded their midfield, with the roaming Gilbert Martin and Garcia always ready to exploit  open spaces outside the Tarxien penalty area.

Vittoriosa’s goal, after 18 minutes, gave them the edge over their opponents. Pereira went past Tarxien defender Bonnici down the left flank, delivered a low cross and Garcia let it roll for the unmarked Gilbert Martin to shoot past helpless keeper Vella.

That goal sapped much of Tarxien’s confidence as they looked short of a decent reaction and only went close with headers from Barbosa and Calheira, narrowly missing the target.

Vittoriosa should have made it two six minutes before the break. Hesitant Bonnici was dispossessed of the ball by Guerrero. His cross from the byeline on the left fell to Pereira who beat the keeper but Bonnici managed to block his effort on the line.

Tarxien enjoyed more of the initiative after the interval. Barbosa’s free kick was saved with some difficulty by keeper Cini and when Jorge Silva ran inside the Vittoriosa area and avoided the keeper, his low cross was cleared into a corner by Sidibe.

As they pushed forward, Tarxien left gaps at the back. Vittoriosa tried to exploit them when Martin ran clear on a fast break on 55 minutes, but opted to pass the ball which was cleared into a corner. Garcia tested keeper Vella with a powerful shot before Tarxien effected a double substitution past the hour, putting in Luca Martinelli and Miguel Ciantar for Bonnici and Potezika.

But it did not work out for the Rainbows as Vittoriosa scored two more goals in the final 20 minutes to secure the points. On 72 minutes Sadowski pushed Pereira inside the area as the Brazilian was about to connect on Garcia’s pass. Vittoriosa were awarded a penalty and Oscar Guerrero tucked it away.

Five minutes later, Vittoriosa scored their third. Martin advanced through the middle, played the ball wide to Marcelo Pereira to beat keeper Vella with a diagonal drive from the left.

On 81 minutes, Josef Mifsud blocked Pereira inside the area when well served by Martin.

Vittoriosa keeper even denied dejected Tarxien a consolation goal in the dying minutes as he repelled Jorge Silva’s shot with a plucky save.