Resilient Msida SJ thwart Tarxien

Msida St Joseph 1
Aganun 79
Tarxien Rainbows 1
Denni 35

Msida St Joseph may not have had the best start to the season but they are learning fast.

Having opened their account by holding the more-quoted Valletta to a goalless draw in their last outing, Msida showed remarkable fighting spirit yesterday as they came from behind to hold Tarxien Rainbows to a one-all draw.

Coming from a 3-1 defeat of Sliema Wanderers, Tarxien were fancied to extend their winning run but they were foiled by their own profligacy and Msida's resilience.

Tarxien fashioned the better chances but credit to Msida for digging in to rescue a point with an improved attacking display in the latter stages of the second half.

One of the two changes in the Tarxien team from the win over Sliema was enforced on coach Noel Coleiro by the one-match suspension of Ryan Mintoff. The latter's place was taken by Lee Galea while Kurt Magro replaced Andrew Decesare who was unavailable.

Msida captain Adrian Farrugia was restored to the starting formation after completing his recovery from a virus. He came in for Iro Curmi who was not in the squad.

In the early stages, Emiliano Lattes drifted into the Tarxien box from the left and set up Olushola Aganun but the latter miscued his shot.

Minutes later, Lattes again charged towards the byline before passing to Aganun in the goalmouth but Steve Sadowski's perfectly-timed tackle dispossessed the Nigerian.

At the other end, Gianluca Calabretta outmuscled Tyrone Farrugia and sped into the box. His low pass rolled past Manuel Bartolo but Roderick Baldacchino was in the right place to clear.

The gamed ebbed and flowed in the opening stages as the running of Lattes and Aganun were causing Tarxien some anxious moments.

On 17 minutes Denni, Tarxien's Brazilian livewire, glided past Zoran Levnaic and let fly a dipping effort that sailed wide.

Calabretta was giving a torrid time to Msida with his fast running on the left.

On one occasion, the former Mosta winger left a posse of Msida players in his wake and supplied a cross-cum-shot which Ribeiro headed over the bar.

Five minutes past the half hour, Tarxien hit the jackpot. Receiving from Calabretta, Denni cut in from the left, ran into the box and drilled a low shot past Bartolo.

Barely three minutes later, Calabretta embarked on another scorching run but hit wide.

Marlow switched to 4-4-2 at the start of the second half but it was Tarxien who almost doubled their advantage. For the umpteenth time, Calabretta dashed into the box from the left but his effort was repelled by Tyrone Farrugia.

When Ribeiro shrugged off Cedric Sciberras's feeble challenge in midfield, danger loomed for Msida as the Brazilian passed to Calabretta who sped clear but his first attempt came off Farrugia and his second shot hit the side-netting.

Ten minutes into the second half, Msida were unlucky not to draw level when Lattes's piledriver cannoned off the bar. Referee Adrian Casha then waved away Msida's claims for a penalty after Lattes fell over Luke Vella Critien's outstretched leg.

With Levnaic working his socks off in central midfield, Msida stirred as the second half progressed.

Adrian Farrugia tried to surprise Bartolo with a long-range effort which sailed wide.

At the other end, Ribeiro, latching on to a clearance by goalkeeper Cassar, stormed past Baldacchino but the latter pulled him back. The Msida left-back was cautioned by Casha.

With 11 minutes remaining, Msida equalised. A prolonged raid by the Saints saw Lattes delivering a perfect cross towards Aganun whose header dropped behind the goal-line after hitting the bar.

Encouraged by their equaliser, Msida mounted a brief spell of pressure but five minutes from time Tarxien nearly regained the lead.

Substitute James Shead's cross reached Denni on the right side of the box but the Brazilian's shot smacked against the woodwork.

Msida St Joseph
M. Bartolo-5, S. Grima-5, R. Baldacchino-5.5, C. Sciberras-5.5, T. Farrugia-7, K. Mifsud-5 ('39 A. Spiteri-6.5), O. Aganun-5, Z. Levnaic-7, A. Farrugia-5.5, E. Lattes-7.5, K. Ebejer-5 ('51 A. Formosa-6.5).

Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-6, S. Sadowski-7, M. Caruana-6.5, D. Camilleri-6.5, G. Calabretta-7 ('72 J. Shead), Everton-6, Ribeiro-6, L. Vella Critien-5, Denni-7, L. Galea-5, K. Magro-5.5 ('58 M. Tanti-6).

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Yellow cards: Levnaic; Bartolo; Baldacchino; Everton.

BoV player of the match: Denni (Tarxien Rainbows).