Tarxien endure nervy finale after early flurry

Tarxien Rainbows 3
Bueno 6, 13; Anonam 20;
Mqabba 2
Mazzitelli 21, 48 pen;

Patrick Curmi, named Tarxien Rainbows coach on Tuesday only weeks after being sacked by Birkirkara, craved victory to get his reign off to a flying start but hardly imagined that he would endure a nerve-wracking final half-an-hour after an impressive opening salvo from his new team.

It was hard to believe that the Rainbows were 3-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes, especially for a side that have had a poor start to the season, gaining only four points from their opening eight league matches.

Mqabba went into this match with a weakened team as Branislav Timotic, Bojan Mamic, Mark Anthony Psaila, Marko Potezica and Clayton Micallef were all suspended.

With such depleted resources, Mqabba coach Clive Mizzi gave Mauro Bonnici, Ryan Sammut, Rene Duca and Shawn Magro a chance to underline their case for a regular place in the team.

Mqabba flirted with disaster after a horror show which left them three goals down.

But after Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli had handed Mqabba a lifeline when scoring two goals, the second coming only three minutes into the second half, an improved showing ended with John Paul Muscat fastening onto a neat pass from the Brazilian only to miskick the ball horribly.

Thirteen minutes into the game, Mqabba looked out for the count, partly because of Daniel Mariano Bueno’s rediscovered ruthlessness in front of goal but also as a result of their chaotic defending.

Prior to this match, the Rainbows had only scored nine league goals all season but Mqabba’s lax marking allowed them to score three in the opening 20 minutes.

In the sixth minute, Manuel Caruana picked out Rodrigo Galvao who passed for Bueno to slide home.

Misfortune rather than individual error led to Tarxien’s second, seven minutes later, when Bueno doubled the lead after Orosco Anonam headed Caio Suguino’s cross invitingly into the Brazilian’s path.

Tarxien moved 3-0 ahead on 20 minutes, Anonam scoring his second goal in two games when he headed in Karl Pulo’s corner at the near post.

Mqabba hardly fashioned a chance in the opening stages and their sloppy display did not merit a goal but Mazzitelli hit the back of the net with a well-taken free-kick after 21 minutes to revive his team’s hopes.

No more goals were scored in the first half after a frenetic opening. The Reds urgently needed a tonic early in the second half and they were handed one on 47 minutes when Tarxien defender Stefan Giglio shoved Mqabba winger Marlon Briffa on the edge of the box and referee Paul Caruana pointed to the spot.

Mazzitelli sent Tarxien goalkeeper David Cassar the wrong way from the penalty spot to narrow his team’s deficit to one goal.

Mqabba looked more threatening at the start of the second half but it might have been four for Tarxien had Pulo made proper contact with the ball following a cross from the right from Galvao after 64 minutes.

Mqabba striker Muscat had an inviting chance to complete their comeback with 14 minutes remaining but was found wanting with the goal at his mercy. Mazzitelli turned provider, breaking free in the box and squaring to his strike partner Muscat who miscued his shot.

That near miss shook Tarxien who increased their efforts as they defended their lead with discipline and drive while Mqabba struggled to find openings.

The final whistle came as a relief to Tarxien who were able to celebrate only their second win this season while Mqabba slipped to their second defeat in a row.

Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-6, S. Sadowski-5 (55 K. Sammut-5), Everton-6, M. Caruana-6.5 (83 J. Vella), S. Giglio-6, K. Pulo-6 (71 A. Carabott), O. Anonam-6.5, C. Garcia Suguino-6.5, R.A. Galvao-8, D. M. Bueno-7, J. Grioli-6.

Mqabba
K. Calleja-6, P. Grima-6, M. Bonnici-6, R. Sammut-6, M. Briffa-5, D. Azzopardi-5, T. Mazzitelli-7.5, R. Duca-6, C. Calleja-6, J.P. Muscat-4.5, S. Magro-6.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Suguino; Giglio; Pulo; Grima; Anonam; Bonnici; Briffa.

BOV player of the match: Daniel Mariano Bueno (Tarxien).