Late winner puts holders in semis

Senglea Athletics 1
Tarxien Rainbows 2

A stoppage-time goal, scored by Simon Shead, gave holders Tarxien a passage to the semi-finals of the First Division KO competition in a tie that looked destined for extra-time.

In a somewhat drab match, Noel Coleiro's side, who are also challenging for promotion to the Premier League, had the last laugh to keep their cup dream alive.

As expected, this was a tight match with Tarxien, perhaps, enjoying a slide edge over Senglea. They started as the better side and immediately forged ahead in their first attacking move.

This came in the 13th minute when Angus Buhagiar beat the offside trap, dribbled past goalkeeper Jonathan Agius and passed to Shead who scrambled the ball home.

Tarxien could have made it 2-0 on 16 minutes. From a Malcolm Buttigieg cross, Shead just failed to make contact from close in.

Tarxien were left to rue that missed chance as Senglea equalised on 19 minutes. Simon Aquilina rose high above the Tarxien rearguard to reach a Brady Zerafa corner and head past stranded goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.

Senglea could have scored again on 27 minutes but Anthony Ewurun was unlucky to see his effort hit a post following a melee inside the Tarxien area.

The second half was a low-key affair with Tarxien cursing their luck early on when Matthew Pisani's shot hit a post following a good one-two move with Shead.

Jonathan John Agius, deputising for regular keeper George Attard, made a superb save to stop a Matthew Borg effort which had looked destined to reach the Senglea net.

But then came Tarxien's second goal. Over a minute of added time had elapsed when Shead ran into space and shot low past Agius.

Senglea: J.J. Agius, S. Aquilina, D. Okonkwo, D. Cosaitis, K. Mifsud, C. Caruana (J. Farrugia), B. Zerafa, M. Tanti, E. Azzopardi, A. Ewurun, K. Abela.

Tarxien: A. Curmi, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, M. Buttigieg, (J.P. Muscat) M. Pisani, E. Mbong, S. Shead, A. Buhagiar, M. Pisani (M. Borg), R. Schembri, L. Vella Critien (G. Cutajar).

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Man of the match: Simon Shead (Tarxien Rainbows).