Naxxar L-Tarxien R. 1-2
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, John Debon (Jurgen Debono), T. Lopes, R. Bakere, D. Falzon, D. Reano, A. Decesare, F. Stojanovic, A. Rocha Da Silva (M. Vignjevic), A. Buhagiar, T. Scerri
Tarxien R: N. Vella, C. Mamo, M. Caruana, D. Toure’, W. Barbosa (L. Concalves), R. Sammut, C. Menendez (A. Agius), D. Bueno, J. Mifsud, S. Bonnici, J.Silva
Referee: M. Apap
Asst.refs: D.Spiteri, T. Debono
Additional asst.refs: M. Borg, T. Farrugia Cann
4th official: P. Abela
Scorers: T. Scerri 45, D. Toure’ 53, 86 pen
Yellow cards: J. Silva, R. Sammut, T. Lopes, S. Bonnici, A. Rocha Da Silva, D. Falzon, C. Menendez, A. Buhagiar
Red card: S. Bonnici
Player of the match: D. Toure’ (Tarxien R)
TMI top three: 1. D. Toure’ 2. F. Stojanovic 3. C. Mamo
Demba Toure’s scored a brace as Tarxien Rainbows capitalised on Naxxar Lions’ bad patch to win this delicate fixture in the Relegation Pool.
Following a draw against Vittoriosa Stars and with Qormi lifting themselves above them on Tuesday, Tarxien badly needed this win to move themselves into third place, behind Floriana and the same Naxxar.
Although playing with ten men for almost half an hour, the Rainbows managed to turn the tables on their opponents to overcome a goal deficit and win with a late soft penalty.
Tarxien were without the injured defender Luca Martinelli and exiled Miguel Ciantar to the bench, giving starts to William Barbosa and Ryan Sammut.
Naxxar were bereft of the suspended Gilmar Ribeiro and they strived for inventive. They were again a disappointing lot as they remain winless in their last six league matches.
In a tedious first half, the Lions produced two bursting runs within two minutes in the opening stages. Scerri advanced well on the right on Stojanovic’s pass but when challenged by Mamo inside the area, he lost his composure and shot against the post.
Falzon then raced inside the Tarxien area but played the ball too long when faced by Tarxien keeper Vella.
Tarxien’s only notable move came on 20 minutes. A Jorge Silva corner was flicked by Bueno towards Bonnici who hit feebly in the keeper’s hands.
With halftime looming and not the slightest hint of a score, Naxxar were awarded a corner, kicked by Stojanovic from the right, and Terence Scerri outjumped two opponents to head past keeper Vella and score his eighth league goal of the season.
The Rainbows did not take long to level matters though as they substituted Barbosa with Lucas Concalves and went into the second half in some more lively fashion. Within eight minutes of the restart, Demba Toure’ anticipated Lopes to flick low Jorge Silva’s cross from the right past the helpless keeper Azzopardi.
Tarxien kept up the pressure. Jorge Silva twice threatened, with a low diagonal shot that ended narrowly wide and a low shot which was saved by the busy Naxxar keeper.
Tarxien were down to ten men on 67 minutes. Their defender Steve Bonnici was sent off for a second booking after a reckless tackle on Rocha Da Silva.
Naxxar failed to make good of their numerical superiority though and Tarxien remained the more potent going forward. The unmolested Toure’ hit Concalves cross over and the Senegalese forward almost put Tarxien in front for the first time in the game on 72 minutes. He was thwarted by Azzopardi’s plucky save, blocking his goalbound effort on Bueno’s cross.
Four minutes from time, Tarxien were awarded a penalty in what looked like a very harsh decision by the referee as Concalves’ shot hit Buhagiar’s outstretched arm inside the Naxxar area.
Denba Toure’ tucked it away to bolster Tarxien’s salvation hopes.