Tarxien R.-Naxxar L. 0-1

Tarxien R: N. Vella, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, F. Lopez (L. Concalves), D. Toure’, M. Ciantar (A. Agius), R. Sammut (S. Bonnici), C. Menendez, D. Bueno, J. Mifsud, J. Santos Silva

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, R. Bakare, V. Bellia, A. Buhagiar, A. Decesare, D. Falzon, T. Lopes De Souza, D. Reano, A. Rocha Da Silva (M. Vignjevic), T. Scerri, F. Stojanovic

Referee: P. Caruana

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: R. Bakare 23

Yellow cards: A. Decesare, T. Lopes, D. Bueno, F. Stojanovic, D. Falzon, S. Bonnici

Player of the match: V. Bellia (Naxxar L)

TMI top three: 1. F. Stojanovic  2. A. Buhagiar  3. J. Santos Silva

Raimi Bakare  scored a goal of immeasurable importance for Naxxar Lions yesterday. His defiant long range shot, also helped by the gutsy wind, midway in the first half, enabled his side to beat Tarxien Rainbows and moves them closer towards security in the Premier League.

Angus Buhagiar was energetic on the flank while Filip Stojanovic was always highly involved in his side’s build-ups in midfield. And with Thiago Lopes De Souza blotting out Demba Toure, Tarxien’s cutting edge was blunted.  Their closing down in midfield and penalty area defending in the second half acquired a new determination for Naxxar. They always showed more purpose as the Rainbows put very little effort into this match and were unable to shake off their lethargy and threaten for at least an equaliser after falling behind.

In truth, Tarxien were handicapped by the absences of their two suspended players Carl Mamo and Karl Pulo, as Steve Sadowski and Miguel Ciantar were given starts instead. A notable absentee for Naxxar was their suspended Brazilian playmaker Gilmar Ribeiro, but before the match was even a quarter of an hour old, they were forced to substitute their other injured midfielder Andre Rocha Do Silva. He was replaced by Milan Vignjevic.

The Lions started with the wind behind their backs. On 17 minutes, Stojanovic’s free kick was headed out by Fernando Lopez. Falzon’s shot on the loose ball was blocked by the Tarxien defence.

Midway through the half, they forged ahead. Raimi Bakare’s drilling shot from some 30 metres out beat Tarxien’s keeper Vella at the top left hand corner.

Towards the half hour, Buhagiar sent a low diagonal cross from the right but Scerri arrived fractionally late.

Tarxien effected a double substitution at halftime, sending in Lucas Concalves and Steven Bonnici but their play did not improve much. Before the match was an hour old, they only had a Jorge Silva effort, from outside the area, blocked by the Naxxar keeper Azzopardi. There were tame efforts by Menendez and  substitute Concalves after that but they only upped the tempo in the dying minutes with a Toure’ shot going over.

Naxxar thus could defend their lead with minimal difficulty to take three precious points that give them some respite.