10-man Sliema hold out for a draw

TARXIEN RAINBOWS-1, SLIEMA WANDERERS-1

Tarxien Rainbows and Sliema Wanderers gained a point each after their second-round match ended one-all this evening.

It was the second consecutive draw for both teams but Sliema will have been more pleased with the result after playing the last 25 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of defender Josef Mifsud.

Trevor Cilia and Nikola Bogdanovic made their debut for Sliema Wanderers but Andrew Decesare, who like Cilia joined the Blues from Birkirkara earlier this week, was ruled out by injury.

Only four minutes from the start of the game had passed when Sliema took the lead. Cleaven Frendo's well-taken free-kick from the distance stunned Tarxien goalkeeper Nicky Vella.

Tarxien gradually recovered from this early setback to gain the initiative. On 17 minutes, Karl Pulo's cross from a corner sailed towards the six-yard box and Ricardo's header was pushed away for a corner by Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper.

The Rainbows continued to dictate matters, their pressure forcing Sliema to give away possession. Their efforts paid off on 32 minutes when Jimmy Mayasi, capitalising on a mistake by the Sliema defence, hit a curling shot that was partially blocked by Bonello. The loose ball rolled to Pulo who stabbed home from close range.

Mayasi threatened again with a dipping shot that sailed over the crossbar.

Sliema had to wait until five minutes from half-time to create another chance. Cilia's volley was blocked by Carlo Mamo but the loose ball dropped to Frendo whose rising shot was off target.

Moments later, Vella denied Sliema with an excellent save from Rumen Galabov's long-range drive.

Early in the second half, Jerry Ani missed a good chance to put Sliema ahead as he mishit his shot after being put through by Alex Muscat.

The exchanges were balanced in the opening stages of the second period. Thirteen minutes into the second half, Galabov passed to Lattes who advanced through the middle but his fierce shot finished wide.

On 64 minutes, Pulo's run troubled Sliema defence to the point that Galabov almost committed an own goal as his backpass ended just wide of the far post.

Hardly a minute later, Tarxien received a boost when Sliema defender Mifsud, who had just been booked for a late challenge on Ricardo, was dismissed after getting a second yellow card for a foul on Mayasi just outside the box.

Mamo's free-kick was high. Bolstered by their numerical advantage, Tarxien piled up the pressure on Sliema. Pulo cut in from the left before rifling a shot that Bonello did well to fist away for a corner.

Pulo then nodded wide from Everton's corner.

Five minutes from time, it was Sliema who threatened when Cilia's cross from the left flew to Lattes who headed over.

In stoppage time, the Wanderers missed a great chance to steal a later winner when Lattes ran clear on the counter but the Argentine hit over from inside the box.

Pulo was named BOV player of the match.