Tarxien down Birkirkara

Birkirkara 2 Tarxien 3

Rodrigo Andreis Galvao was in mesmerising form, teaming up with Caio Garcia Suguino as Tarxien Rainbows turned up on the style to crush floundering Birkirkara.

Birkirkara took the lead with their first meaningful attack on four minutes.

Joseph Zerafa started a move with some fancy footwork on the left flank which with Terence Vella sliding a cross into the path of Rowen Muscat who passed the ball into the bottom corner our of the reach of Tarxien keeper David Cassar.

Tarxien were not discouraged by the setback of falling behind and after 17 minutes, Justin Grioli's shot deflected invitingly into the path of Galvao but after cleverly wrong-footing Rodrigo Pereira, he was thwarted by Mora block.

Tarxien possessed genuine menace in attack and they carved through Birkirkara with ease to restore parity on the half hour mark. Galvao controlled the ball well on his chest and fizzed in a sweetly half-volley that flew past Mora.

The Rainbows continued to look dangerous, although, Patrick Curmi's side would not have expected to be handed the lead by their opponents after 55 minutes.

Suguino was the unlikely provider as his dipping cross from corner seemed to be within Mora's reach but the ball spun off the keeper's gloves, hitting Rodrigo Pereira and it flew into the net.

If Tarxien hoped this blow would have a detrimental effect on Birkirkara, they were to be sorely mistaken as Paul Fenech's shot was blocked by the legs of Cassar and Moises Avila Peres arrived with perfect timing on to the rebound to send the ball flashing past the goalkeeper.

Paul Zammit's side were pressing for the winner when Trevor Cilia twisted and turned to leave the goalkeeper struggling before firing in only to see Stefan Giglio on the line to clear off the danger after 64 minutes.

As the Stripes' fans sensed a late winner, they were stunned after 67 minutes when Suguino was afforded too much space by Decesare on the right flank and when the ponderous Dragan Perisic missed his cross, Galvao timed his arrival perfectly to head past Mora.

It went downhill from there for Curmi's side as Birkirkara conceded too much territory to their opponents in a bid to press for an equaliser.

Galvao's display surely deserved to complete a hat-trick but he was undone by the post after 72 minutes, riding two challenges, fired an emphatic shot past Mora but the ball flashed against the woodwork, the rebound fell kindly to Suguino before his diving header was deflected away for a corner.

Daniel Mariano Bueno should have made the game safe for Tarxien Rainbows on 84 when referee Adrian Azzopardi blew the whistle to award Tarxien a penalty ruling that Mora had pushed Galvao in the box but any hopes the Tarxien fans have had of a relaxing few minutes were dashed when the Spaniard redeemed himself immediately to save the spot-kick.