ĦAMRUN S..............2
TARXIEN R.............3
Ħamrun: F. Tabone, M. Borg (G. Azzopardi 35’), P. Chircop, L. Sciberras, C. Maldini, M. Giusti (R. Refalo 90’), L. Grech, L. Motta dos Santos, J. Grech, S. Nanapere (T. Cilia 79’), P. Teixeira Maia
Tarxien: A. Cassar, E. Baker, E. Marcelina, J. Galea (A. Agius 64’), T. Caruana (D. Micallef 74’), D. Ponce de Leon Garcia, A. Nilsson, A. da Paixao Alves, M. Tabone, K. Zammit, S. Borg
Yellow Cards: M. Giusti 70’ P. Chircop 82’, T. Cilia 89’ (Ħ), M. Tabone 82’ (T)
Scorers: J. Galea 11’, M. Tabone 75’, P. Chircop 93’ og (T), M. Giusti 58’, 63’ (Ħ)
Referee: Esther Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, Peter Abela
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Giusti (Ħ) 2. A. da Paixao Alves (T) 3. L. Motta dos Santos (Ħ)
BOV Player of the match: Massimiliano Giusti (Ħamrun)
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Two comebacks made the match more colourful, as Tarxien Rainbows claimed their second seasonal win against Ħamrun Spartans. The second half reaction by Ħamrun looked to be enough as they managed to turn the game with a brace by Massimiliano Giusti. But Tarxien were brave enough to react and an unfortunate situation in which Philip Chircop scored in his own net.
A draw would have been a fair result for both teams, but surely Tarxien will accept taking the full points to extend Jesmond Zerafa’s positive debut with the Rainbows. Zerafa made only one change from the draw against Floriana as Kurt Zammit started in defence, instead of Sergio Fernandez Prendes, with Alex da Paixao Alves starting in a more advanced role.
On the other hand, Stefan Sultana who filled in for suspended caretaker coach Jonathan Holland, made four changes from their last game, as goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone started instead of the injured goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia. Mark Borg and Christian Maldini started in defence while Saturday Nanapere regained his place in attack.
It took only 11 minutes for Tarxien to take the lead. Ponce de Leon Garcia crossed a low ball from the left side to Alex da Paixao Alves and laid to Julian Galea who had no problem beating Fredrick Tabone with a low shot from few metres away.
The reaction of Ħamrun came only on the 20th minute when a shot from a central position by Teixeira Maia finished well over the bar.
After a disappointing first half, the second half was far more better, as Ħamrun started the second half searching for the goal. Massimiliano Giusti started his second half show with an action on the 47th minute but Andrea Cassar saved the shot as he came face to face. Seven minutes later, Kurt Zammit crossed a low ball to Triston Caruana but the shot by the midfielder sailed over the bar.
Ħamrun equalised on the 58th minute as Jake Grech served a ball to Luke Sciberras who laid to Massimiliano Giusti, as the Italian finished the ball in the net. Tarxien freezed in the first quarter of the second half, and it was no surprise that Ħamrun scored the second goal five minutes later. Jake Grech delivered a good ball from the left side to Massimiliano Giusti who had the first shot saved partially by Cassar, but the Tarxien goalkeeper couldn’t save the second shot.
Giusti almost notched a hat-trick on the 69th minute but his shot on the line of the penalty area finished centimetres over the bar.
Tarxien reacted an equalied on the 75th minute. It was a perfect free-kick from the right to defender Matthew Tabone who slotted the header on the right side of the post. The Rainbows looked transformed and eight minutes later, Tabone had to save into a corner a brilliant shot from outside the box by Alex Nilsson.
Tarxien closed the game on the attack and Baker could have snatched the winning goal from a corner, but his header finished off target. But the game wasn’t over, as in the last action of the game Tarxien won the game. It was a corner from the right, delivered in the box and in an attempt to clear the ball, the header by Philip Chircop beat his own goalkeeper to give Tarxien the win.
SLIEMA W.................1
ST. ANDREWS...........1
Sliema: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, G. Muir, S. Bianchardi, R. De Souza Vilas Boas, W. Salomon, D. Rocha Dos Santos (A. Dos Santos 83’), J. Mintoff (J.P. Farrugia 80’), M. Scerri, M. Sansone, P. Xuereb
St. Andrews: J. Galea, E. Pena Beltre, D. Camilleri (89’ G. McKay), B.W. Che, A. Bakmaz, Z. Kastrevec (N. Belacevic 76’), K. Kesinovic, M. Johnson, J. Farrugia, I. Paz, K. Nwoko (R. Darmanin 89’)
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, David Castillo
4th Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: D. Rocha dos Santos 9’, P. Xuereb 18’, S. Biancardi 72’ (S), A. Bakmaz 39’, E. Pena Beltre 77’, G. McKay 90’ (SA)
Red Cards: P. Xuereb 43’, A. Muscat 87’ (S), A. Bakmaz 74’ (SA)
Scorers: M. Johnson 10’ (SA), D. Rocha dos Santos 41’ (S)
TMI Top 3: 1. I. Paz (SA) 2. S. Biancardi (S) 3. E. Pena Beltre (SA)
BOV Player of the match: Ivan Paz (St. Andrews)
Sliema’s run was halted as they were held to a 1-1 draw against St. Andrews to bring an end their two consecutive wins. With this draw, Sliema stay five points above St. Andrews and level with Birkirkara with a game more.
Danilo Doncic made only one change from the team that defeated Ħamrun as Ziga Kastrevec replaced Godwin McKay. On the other hand, John Buttigieg made five changes as Giuseppe Sarao, Michele Sansone, Mark Scerri, Wisdom Salamon and John Mintoff, took the place of Glenn Zammit, Gabriel Aquilina, Matias Muchardi, Ryan Spiteri and Jean Paul Farrugia.
St. Andrews opened the score after ten minutes as Michael Johnson rose above his opponents to beat Sarao with a header after a free-kick by Ivan Paz. Sliema’s reaction came two minutes later as Muscat passed to Sansone but his effort finished off target. Buttigieg’s team went close again three minutes later. John Mintoff passed to Peter Xuereb, the midfielder tried with a shot that was cleared off the line by Michael Johnson.
Both teams were cancelling each other and the subsequent action came only on the 34th minute as Jake Galea had to save into a corner a shot by Denni Rocha dos Santos. Three minutes later, Wisdom received a pass by Mintoff but his shot didn’t trouble.
Finally, Sliema equalised on the 41st minute. A corner by John Mintoff, finished in the direction of Wisdom Salamon who headed to Denni Rocha dos Santos, with the veteran foreigner heading also past Galea. But two minutes later, Sliema had to continue the game with ten men after Peter Xuereb was sent-off for a second yellow card.
Sliema almost took the lead on the hour mark when John Mintoff crossed from the right to Wisdom Salamon who timed the ball but his header gave only the illusion of the goal as his effort hit the side netting.
St. Andrews were reduced to ten men on the 74th minute after Ante Bakmaz was also sent-off for a second yellow card. The second half continued on the same rhythm and Joseph Farrugia tried his luck with a free-kick six minutes from time but the shot finished over the bar.
The Wanderers had to finish the game with nine men as Alex Muscat was shown a straight red card after a contact with Enmy Pena Beltre near the St. Andrews bench. Despite the numerical disadvanrage, Sliema could have won the game on the 90th minute but goalkeeper Jake Galea tipped the free-kick from long range by Roger to a corner.