Calcado's brilliance sends Greens crashing

Msida St Joseph 4
Calcado 15, 53, 62; Aurelio 71
Floriana 1
Brincat 81 pen.

Njongo Priso saved Valletta from a humiliating defeat as the Cameroon forward converted a 75th-minute penalty to earn the champions a 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Tarxien Rainbows.

Prior to the match, many had predicted a comfortable outing for Valletta against a side still without a point in the 2008-09 Premier League.

That prediction looked likely to be matched when Dyson Falzon put the Citizens ahead early on. But football is played on the pitch and not on paper and Tarxien fought back admirably with Daniel Buena hitting a first-half brace that turned the match in the newly-promoted team's favour.

The Rainbows kept playing with determination and inspired by the excellent goalkeeping of Anthony Curmi they kept the Citizens out time and again until a handball infringement by Pio Sciriha in the area gifted the Citizens a lifeline that earned them a hard-fought point.

In the end, the draw must have left the Rainbows with a sour taste but coach Noel Coleiro will be heartened by the performance of his lads against much stronger opponents.

Valletta coach Paul Zammit made three changes to the team that started against Hibernians last Monday. Jamie Pace, Justin Grioli and Marcelo Tolomeotti were dropped to the bench and replaced by Josef Mifsud, Dyson Falzon and Ian Zammit. Cleaven Frendo was ruled out with a thigh injury.

Coleiro was without Ivan Carapic and Andrew Decesare who were both serving a one-match ban. Steve Sadowski and Warren Chircop were given the nod to start and Curmi was preferred in goal to Sean Cini.

As expected, Valletta made a fast start and on seven minutes they were already a goal up.

Giglio's througball put Priso in ample space and the latter whipped in a low cross into the path of Falzon who stabbed the ball home.

On 13 minutes, from a short Giglio corner, Steve Bezzina picked up Mifsud at the far post but his volley flashed past the upright.

A minute later, Tarxien stunned the champions with the equaliser. Bueno drifted past three City defenders before hitting past Andrew Hogg.

The Citizens quickly responded but Priso's firm drive on 16 minutes finished inches wide with Curmi beaten.

On 29 minutes Valletta thought they had regained the lead when Priso dribbled past Curmi and fired the ball home. But the 'goal' was annulled for offside.

Things got worse for Valletta when on 34 minutes Tarxien took the lead. They won a free-kick 20 metres out and Rodrigo Cariaga's dipping cross was met by the towering Bueno whose downward header was fluffed by Hogg and the ball rolled under his body much to the dismay of the Citizens.

Tarxien were now growing in confidence and Valletta were finding it increasingly difficult to create any danger.

In time added on, Curmi took centre stage with a spectacular save when he flew towards the top corner to tip over the bar Gilbert Agius's free-kick.

On the restart, it was Valletta who dominated possession as they looked to level matters as quickly as possible. On 58 minutes Curmi was forced to dive to his right to keep out Edmund Agius's long range shot.

Zammit made his first change on the hour when he withdrew Kenneth Scicluna and brought on Pace.

On 62 minutes Priso picked Zammit in the area and the Valletta forward laid the ball into the path of Bezzina whose shot was blocked by Curmi.

The Tarxien keeper was the protagonist in this phase and on 64 minutes he again dived full stretch to keep out Bezzina's shot.

Two minutes later the Rainbows should have killed off the match when Bueno stole possession in midfield surged through before serving the unmarked Chircop who saw his shot blocked by Hogg and then Mifsud.

The Citizens were growing increasingly frustrated and Zammit looked to add more firepower upfront when on 72 minutes he sent on Tolomeotti in lieu of Giglio.

Valletta finally drew level on 75 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Sciriha was judged to have handled in the area and Priso cooly despatched the ball into the net.

Chants of 'Come on City' from the Valletta fans grew louder as the Citizens pushed for the winner.

On 77 minutes, Falzon's shot was pushed away by Curmi and despite some hot pressure from the champions, the gallant Rainbows held on for a well-earned point.

Msida St Joseph
M. Camilleri-6, S. Grima-6 ('71 K. Mifsud), A. Spiteri-6.5, T. Farrugia-7, S. Vella-6.5, A. Farrugia-6.5, A. Da Silva-7, C. Camilleri-6, M. Aurelio-6.5 ('71 E. Navarro), P. Calcado-8, K. Magro-6.5 ('85 Ad. Spiteri).

Floriana
D. Maksic-4.5, S. Eboh-5, J. Briffa-5, D. Pisani-5, C. Camoin-5, M. Brincat-6, P. Doffo-5 ('67 J. Borg-5), O. Anonam-6 ('54 M. Gauci-5), C. Caruana-5.5, A. Madzar-5.5 ('63 M. Briffa-5.5), R. Darmanin-5.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Vella, Brincat.

Missed penalties: T. Farrugia (M) 34; Darmanin (F) 60.

BoV player of the match: Pedro Calcado (Msida St Joseph).