Senglea A-Tarxien R 2-2
Senglea A: M. Farrugia, S. Olberkis, D. Debono, E. Sakyi, L. Grech (A. Spiteri 73'), M. Micallef, T. Marukawa (R. Theodoro De Almeida 57'), J. Teixeira, J. Tanti, S. Cipriott (N. Virano Gonzalo 80'), W. Zambie.
Tarxien R: R. Briffa, M. Botta, T. Veronese, D. Mambouana, G. Camilleri, A. Azzopardi (B. Farrugia 65'), A. Andrejic, M. Ciantar, P. Kanzurov, A. Tenorio (N. Portelli 53'), D. Zerafa.
Referee: Glen Tonna
Ass. Referees: Mitchell Scerri, James Muscat
Fourth official: Stefan Pace
Scorers: W. Zamble 34', M. Ciantar 68', D. Mambouana 75', J. Teixeira 95'
Yellow cards: S. Olberkis 26', P. Kanzurov 32', N. Portelli 84', B. Farrugia 90', D. Mambouana 91', M. Ciantar 92'
Red card: N. Virano Gonzalo 90'
Player of the match: Miguel Ciantar (Tarxien R)
TMI Best three: 1. M. Ciantar, 2. D. Mambouana 3. J. Tanti
Attendance: 169
Senglea scored a dramatic 95th minute equaliser to deny Tarxien of their first victory of the season. Tarxien were heading for a more than deserved victory after scoring two goals after the break to turn defeat into victory, but Teixeira's equaliser dashed their hopes of a first victory.
Both sides were coming from a series of negative results, Senglea losing their last three encounters and Tarxien still in search of their first point of the season.
The match started with an Ayrton Azzopardi freekick going wide. On six minutes Tarxien missed a sitter when Miguel Ciantar beat the offside trap and advanced all alone in front of goal and squared to Tenorio who with an open goal at his mercy managed to hit over the bar from a couple of meters.
Sixty seconds later another great chance for Tarxien with Andrejic hitting from point blank range, but Farrugia managed to block with his foot. Tarxien continued to create the better chances and on 14 minutes Miguel Ciantar tested Matthew Farrugia with a well-executed overhead kick.
After this initial positive period for Tarxien, the match became more balanced but both sides were at times erratic especially in midfield. Surprisingly Senglea forged ahead on 34 minutes when a Jan Tanti freekick from the edge of the area was partially blocked by Briffa and from the Zamble darted first on the ball to fire home from close range.
Sixty seconds later Senglea almost doubled the score when Tanti's cross from the right found Teixeira completely unmarked but his header went slightly over the bar. A timid reaction from the Rainbows with a long distance effort from Andrejic just missing the upright.
The second half started with a Tenorio move on the right and a cross towards Andrejic who shot wide when well placed. After this initial chance the game was rather scrappy, played mainly in midfiedl with Senglea happy to control their slender lead and with Tarxien lacking ideas in attack.
On 67 minutes a rare attempt at goal from Senglea's De Almeida who came on as a substitute. A minute later Tarxien drew level when Miguel Ciantar fired home a cross from the right by Portelli.
Two minutes later Portelli tried his luck from outside the area but his shot was well over the bar. On 75 minutes the unexpected happened when from an erratic throw-in by Senglea, Mambouana pounced on the ball, dribbled past the goalkeeper and hammered home from an acute angle.
Tarxien were now bubbling to life again and Mambouana missed a golden opportunity when he lost balance when about to shoot from an ideal position. Tarxien continued to control the match as Senglea made a last desperate effort. Tempers flared in the dying minutes with Senglea reduced to ten men when Virano was sent off on 90 minutes.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time Senglea obtained a dramatic equaliser when they were awarded a freekick just inside the area and Teixeira fired past Briffa for an unexpected 2-2 draw.