Vittoriosa S. Tarxien R. 1-1

Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat, Samir Arabv, L. Torris, O. Sidibe, M. Pereira, G. Martin, O. Guerrero, C. Spiteri, M. Buttigieg (C. Sammut), F. Aguiar, M. Camilleri (R. Mifsud)

Tarxien R:  N. Vella, C. Mamo, M. Caruana, F. Lopez, D. Toure (L. Concalves), R. Sammut, C. Menendez, D. Bueno (M. Ciantar), K. Pulo (S. Bonnici), J. Mifsud, J. Silva

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs:  D. Sultana, A. Borg Cardona

4th official: M. Spiteri

Scorers: O. Guerrero 13, K. Pulo 41

Yellow cards: O. Sidibe, J. Silva, F. Aguiar, K. Pulo, L. Torri, C. Mamo, M. Caruana

Red card: C. Mamo

Player of the match: N. Vella (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. N. Vella  2. F. Aguiar  3. O. Guerrero

Vittoriosa Stars obtained another point in their battle for salvation in a one-all draw against Tarxien Rainbows, but they remain winless in six consecutive league matches.

This result keeps the Stars in penultimate place, five  points adrift of Naxxar Lions, who yesterday beat Rabat Ajax, and leaves them deep in the relegation quagmire.

Energetic, competitive and with Felipe Aguiar and Oscar Guerrero appearing sharp, Vittoriosa Stars had dropped hints that they could undo Tarxien’s at times vulnerable defence, but they found keeper Nicky Vella in fine form yesterday to frustrate them time and again with a string of smart saves.

Vittoriosa had central defender Sidibe and midfielder Filipe Aguiar back from suspension, but Clive Brincat was ineligible for the same reason.

Tarxien, unbeaten in their last five matches and sitting pretty at the top of the Relegation Pool, were buoyed by the return of captain Manuel Caruana.

They were stunned however by Vittoriosa’s opener after 13 minutes when Oscar Guerrero’s first effort, on Pereira’s cross from the left, was parried by keeper Vella but the Brazilian headed in the loose ball.

This was the first goal conceded by the Rainbows in four matches, having kept a clean sheet in the previous three.

The goal demanded an immediate response from Tarxien. Mifsud’s header on a Mamo cross from the left, was palmed out by Vittoriosa keeper Muscat and then again Muscat rushed off his line to clear before Toure’ could reach for the ball.

Vittoriosa went close to double their lead midway through the half, with Tarxien’s keeper Vella called to hold out Sidibe’s header on a Guerrero corner.

But Tarxien deservingly level matters four minutes before the break. Jorge Silva played a square pass wide on the left towards Karl Pulo to go past an opponent and beat keeper Muscat with a low diagonal drive.

The Tarxien defence went through some embarassment on the stroke of halftime when keeper Vella missed the ball on Guerrero’s free kick but Sidibe’s header was cleared off the line by Ryan Sammut.

Aguiar twice tested keeper Muscat after the restart as Vittoriosa reappeared in lively fashion for the second half. On the other end, keeper Muscat repelled Jorge Silva’s shot. Towards the hour, Sidibe’s looping header on an Aguiar free kick forced the Tarxien keeper to stretch himself and save.

On 66 minutes Tarxien introduced Lucas Concalves for Demba Toure’ and six minutes later they were also forced to substitute the injured Bueno.

Vittoriosa kept probing for a winner showing better intentions than their opponents. Pereira’s fierce drive after 75 minutes was repelled by the alert keeper Vella, who again turned Guerrero’s free kick into  a corner with nine minutes remaining.

On the stroke of full time, Tarxien also had their defender Carlo Mamo sent off for a second booking as the match difused into a boring stalemate.