Ricardo hits late winner for Rainbows

Ħamrun Spartans 2
Spiteri 6; Perreira 69;
Tarxien Rainbows 3
Everton 54; Ricardo 61, 111;
(after extra-time)

Tarxien Rainbows came from behind to join the last eight of the FA Trophy after lowering the colours of Ħamrun Spartans in a five-goal thriller yesterday.

The match was a spectacle for the sizeable crowd present as it was full of attacking football.

The Spartans were the brighter side in the first half but Tarxien came roaring back after the break only for Ħamrun to draw level again and force extra-time.

In the end, however, it was the Rainbows who prevailed courtesy of a well-taken goal from Ricardo to book their place in the quarter-finals for a second successive year.

Ħamrun coach Stephen D’Amato was forced to make do without two key defenders as Martin Hrubsa and Roderick Fenech were both ruled out with injury. Massimo Grima was drafted in at centre-half position alongside Steve Bonnici while young Lee James Agius was deployed in midfield.

Noel Coleiro, the Tarxien coach, opted to leave the returning Sergio on the bench while Justin Grioli was roped in on the right flank at the expence of Ryan Mintoff who started on the bench.

The Spartans were off to a flier and after only six minutes Agius stormed in the Rainbows’ area but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper David Cassar. The ball fell to Gaetan Spiteri who fired home the rebound.

Tarxien responded on 13 minutes when from a Mark Tanti corner, Orosco Anonam saw his header fly wide of target.

Ħamrun almost struck again on 15 minutes when Rupert Mangion’s perfect ball put Marcelo Pereira through but the Brazilian was anticipated by the quick-thinking Cassar.

Four minutes later, a poor clearance from Omar Borg fell into the path of Manuel Caruana but luckily for the Spartans the Tarxien midfielder’s shot drifted out of range.

On 29 minutes the Spartans were again close. Spiteri did well to roll the ball into the path of Agius who let fly a thunderous, rising shot that was brilliantly pushed to a corner by Cassar.

The Spartans were clearly on top now and four minutes later Mangion picked Johann Vukanic on the right flank. The Serbian wingback curled in an inviting cross towards Pereira whose thumping header flashed just wide.

Seven minutes from the break, Vukanic exchanged passes with Spiteri before squaring the ball towards the unmarked Pereira but the Brazilian was anticipated by the alert Cassar.

Tarxien finally came close five minutes from the break when Ricardo’s powerful drive was blocked in two attempts by Borg.

On the change of ends, Coleiro, clearly unhappy with proceedings, withdrew Cristiano and Manuel Caruana and roped in Sergio and Mintoff.

It was the Spartans who should have doubled their lead on 46 minutes when Pereira broke free into the area but the Brazilian was denied with a timely block from Cassar. Three minutes later, the Tarxien keeper needed the aid of the bar to keep out a Mangion cross-shot.

However, it was Tarxien who drew level on 54 minutes when Ricardo’s cross was met by Bueno who saw his header come off the upright. Everton was on hand to stab home the rebound.

Two minutes later the Spartans had a glorious opportunity to regain the lead when Perreira slid the ball towards Spiteri who dribbled past Cassar but his shot was cleared off the line by Grioli.

Just past the hour, the woodwork denied Tarxien as Ricardo crossed the ball to Bueno whose header hit the bar. However, that was just a temporary reprieve for the Spartans as a minute later Bueno found Ricardo on the edge of the area and the Brazilian curled the ball into the bottom left corner of Ħamrun’s goal.

The Spartans never gave up though and on 69 minutes it was 2-2. Cassar misjudged Agius’s cross and in came Perreira to head home the equaliser.

There was little goalmouth action after that and the match dragged into extra-time. The two teams were tired and most of the entertaining fare was now lost.

The stalemate, however, was finally broken six minutes after the third restart of the evening.

Sergio dribbled his way past two defenders before quickly switching the ball towards the unmarked Ricardo who beat Borg with a firm drive.

The Rainbows ended the match with ten men, however, when Sergio was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg, M.A. Bonnici, M. Grima, R. Mangion (90 D. Kokavessis), R. Fenech, L.J. Agius, M. Pereira, G. Spiteri, J. Vukanic (111 A. Attard), D. Camilleri (112 M. Mifsud), S. Bonnici.

Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana (46 R. Mintoff), E. Pereira, Ricardo, Cristiano (46 Sergio), M. Tanti (90 S. Hili), D. Bueno, O. Anonam, L. Galea, J. Grioli.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Fenech, Pacheco, Sadowski, Mintoff, Grioli, Everton, Bueno, Spiteri, Bonnici.

Red card: Pachecho (T) 118.