Tarxien R.         1                          
Sta Lucia            3                                    

Tarxien R.

R. Briffa

T. Veronese

D. Mambouana

K. Ohata

B. Muscat

A. Andrejic

S. Shaba (A. Azzopardi 55)

M. Stanojevic

M. Tabone (M. Ciantar 40)

L. Brincat

D. Zerafa

Sta Lucia

T. Aquilina

G. Bohrer

K. Correia

J. Mendoza

M. Maia da Silva (O. Elouni 88)

K. Ante Rosero

J. Walker (A. Magri Overend 65)

J. Zerafa

C. Escobar

PH Santos de Azevedo

L. Grech (D. Agius 83)

Referee: J. Barcelo (Gibraltar)

Asst refs: D. Gomez Gordillo, D. Perez

4^th official: S. Galia

Scorers:  M. Maia da Silva 29, 64 pen, M. Ciantar 45, PH Santos De Azevedo 90

Yellow cards: K. Correia 53, D. Zerafa 63, B. Muscat 8, O. Elouni 86

Red card: B. Muscat 88

BOV Player of the match: M. Maia Da Silva

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Maia Da Silva; 2. K. Ante Rosero, 3. B. Muscat.

Sta Lucia moved to 9^th place in the standings yesterday as they overcame neighbours Tarxien in a derby clash by the odd goal in three.

Maxuell Maia Da Silva was their hero as he scored their two goals, the second from a penalty. The third goal was netted by Santos de Azevedo deep into added time. A goal in first half added time by substitute Miguel Ciantar did not help Tarxien's cause as they have now moved a step closer to relegation.

Sta Lucia now have 20 points, while the Rainbows remain anchored to the bottom with just 4 points from 17 matches.

Sta Lucia dominated the first period and must have been disappointed badly as they had to settle for a 1-1 score at the interval.

In fact, before Tarxien levelled matters, the Saints should have scored more goals to increase their lead, having also hit the crossbar on one occasion.

The Rainbows played second fiddle for most of the time and judging from their performance, they must have surprised themselves that they managed to score an equaliser.

The pattern remained the same in the second half, as Sta Lucia continued to dominate, even after scoring what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot.

Sta Lucia took the initiative at the start and on 6 minutes they claimed a penalty when a Maxuell Maia da Silva shot might have been handled by a Tarxien defender, but the official, close to the action, ignored their protests.

Sta Lucia insisted on attack and from a Leighton Grech cross, Tarxien captain Matthew Tabone anticipated Santos de Azevedo to clear the danger.

Moments later, after a Tarxien defensive lapse, Kevin Ante Rosero went close with a low shot that just missed the target.

In the 21^st minute, the Saints were unlucky when from a Grech cross, Ante Rosero hit the crossbar with a great header.

Five minutes later, Jackson Mendoza advanced into the Rainbows' area, but his low shot was well saved by goalie Rudy Briffa.

The Saints finally broke the ice on the 29^th minute when Santos De Azevedo crossed perfectly for Maia da Silva who beat Timothy Aquilina with a fine header.

On the 35^th minute, Tarxien thought they had equalised when from an Aleksa Andrejic corner kick, Tabone headed into the net, but after the official had already whistled for an infringement. The point was disallowed.

In the 42^nd minute, Sta Lucia threatened seriously again when  from a Jacob Walker cross, Leighton Grech, all alone, saw his shot miraculously blocked by goalie Briffa.

Tarxien scored an unlikely equaliser in first half added time when off a pass by Thomas Veronese, Miguel Ciantar, who had entered the pitch a few minutes earlier, fired a low shot past a beaten Aquilina.

Soon after the start of the second half, the Saints almost took the lead again. From an Ante Rosero cross, Kevin Correia's effort was blocked by the feet of goalie Briffa.

In the 60^th minute, Santa Lucia missed another good opportunity when off a Santos Silva effort, Grech got first to the ball before Ante Rosero, but goalie Briffa managed to block.

At the other end, immediately afterwards, an Andrejic low shot just missed the target.

In the 63^rd minute, the Saints were awarded a penalty when Daniel Zerafa was deemed to have handled the ball off a Walker shot. From the spotkick, Maia Da Silva made no mistake to put his team back in the lead.

In the 74^th minute, Marko Stanojevic's pass went straight into the path of Ante Rosero who advanced, only to lift his effort well over the bar from the edge of the area.

Tarxien finished the match in 10 men after Brandon Muscat was shown a second yellow card.

But there was still time for a third Sta Lucia goal as Santos de Azevedo advanced from midfield to beat Briffa with a low shot.