Tarxien Rainbows shine in extra-time to reach last eight

Tarxien Rainbows 4
Bueno 35 pen., 109; Zammit 83; Tanti 115
Msida St Joseph 2
Calcado 27; Aurelio 61

Tarxien Rainbows are through to the quarter finals of this season's U*BET FA Trophy after disposing of Msida St Joseph after extra-time in a highly-entertaining game that could have easily produced even more than the six goals scored.

The Rainbows may have been shorn of their best formation as the likes of Pio Sciriha and Lino Galea were missing through injury but in the end they still managed to overcome the hurdle to ensure that their name will be in the draw for the quarter finals.

Tarxien had to chase the result till the final ten minutes when substitute Michael Zammit equalised to send the match into extra-time.

With Daniel Mariano Bueno rediscovering his true form in extra-time, there was little that the Msida rearguard could do to stop the Brazilian striker from swaying the tie in Tarxien's favour.

Just past the first quarter, the Rainbows should have gone into the lead. Ivan Carapic started the move deep inside the Rainbows half as he lofted a cross towards Rodrigo Cariaga. The Argentine midfielder chested the ball down and chipped a cross towards the edge of the penalty area for Mark Tanti's volley to be palmed away into a corner by Matthew Camilleri.

The Saints soaked the pressure in the early part of the first half but stormed into the lead on 27 minutes.

Pedro Calcado fed Adrian Farrugia who returned the compliment with a well-taken cross as the Brazilian connected with a looping header which flew past a helpless Anthony Curmi.

Tarxien nearly equalised within a minute as Tanti's shot was deflected by Bueno but his effort was not enough to divert the ball into the net.

Ten minutes from the interval Farrugia tripped Bueno inside the area and the Rainbows were awarded a penalty. The Brazilian made no mistake from the 11-metres spot.

On 43 minutes, Tarxien had a golden opportunity to surge ahead as custodian Camilleri carelessly rushed out of his goal for Bueno to slip a cross towards Chircop. The striker let fly a powerful shot which missed the target altogether as the Msida 'keeper was still chasing back to the goal line.

Three minutes after the restart, Marcos Aurelio beat the offside trap and latched on to a Calcado cross but despite drifting inside the area his effort was too weak to create any problems for Curmi.

On 53 minutes, Decesare foolishly pushed Adrian Farrugia inside the area and referee Zammit rightly awarded Msida a penalty.

Calcado turned from hero to villain as he opted to convert the kick in style by placing it slowly to the right of the goalkeeper but he mistimed his effort and skewed it wide.

On the hour, however, Msida regained the lead. Kurt Magro slipped the ball into the path of Aurelio who easily stabbed the ball past Curmi.

The match looked to be heading Msida's way but seven minutes from time Tarxien equalised. Substitute Zammit, who had been on the pitch for less than three minutes, snatched the equaliser with a low shot.

A minute from time, Tyrone Farrugia could have grabbed the winner for Msida but his header skimmed the post.

Extra-time was needed to determine a winner.

On 97 minutes, Msida missed a golden opportunity to score their third goal as Aurelio drifted down the right flank and chipped a low cross towards the unmarked Cachia but his effort rolled wide.

On 108 minutes, it was Tarxien's turn to create some anxious moments for their opponents as Bueno produced one of his agile runs down the left flank before feeding Cariaga on the edge of the area only for his shot to be blocked by the defence.

On 109 minutes, Tarxien finally forged ahead for the first time in the encounter courtesy of Bueno who left Vella in his wake before beating Camilleri with a low shot.

Msida could have restored equilibrium once again on 114 minutes through Aurelio but his close-range header was brilliantly saved by Curmi.

With the Saints pushing forward for the equaliser, Tarxien sealed qualification with a fourth goal five minutes from time when Tanti let fly a powerful drive that gave Camilleri no chance.

Tarxien
A. Curmi, S. Sadowksi, M. Caruana, I. Carapic, W. Chircop, M. Tanti, A. Decesare ('80 M. Zammit), R. Schembri, D. Mariano Bueno, K. Borg ('76 O. Grech), R. M. Cariaga.

Msida
M. Camilleri, S. Grima ('61 K. Mifsud), A. Spiteri, S. Vella, T. Farrugia, K. Magro ('76 D. Cachia), A. Farrugia, A. Da Silva, P. Calcado, C. Camilleri, M. Aurelio.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Yellow cards: Aurelio, Cariaga, T. Farrugia, Decesare, Vella, Grech.

Missed penalty: Calcado (M) 53.