Tarxien Rainbows 2
De Castro 6; Tanti 87;
Mosta 1
Obiefule 30 pen;
Throughout his long recovery from cruciate surgery, Mark Tanti was in danger of becoming Tarxien’s forgotten man but this unassuming midfielder refused to give in.
His perseverance was rewarded yesterday as Tanti capped his resurgence with a goal that may prove crucial for Tarxien’s hopes of retaining their status.
Pitched in a ‘do-or-die’ clash with fellows-in-distress Mosta, Tarxien went ahead early in the game only to be pegged back by Mosta.
Despite playing the better football for much of the second half, Tarxien were unable to break down Mosta’s defence before Tanti hit the killer goal three minutes from time.
The win lifted Tarxien three points clear of Mosta, with both teams having two games left, and six ahead of second-bottom Mqabba who face Marsaxlokk tomorrow.
Patrick Curmi’s decision to replace Everton with the inexperienced Clive Fenech initially raised a few eyebrows, given the importance of the match. At right-back, Steve Sadowski deputised for Justin Grioli, also suspended.
Mosta coach Steve D’Amato tweaked his formation as Ian Zammit earned a first-team recall and Dyson Falzon was moved towards the centre of midfield where the Blues were missing the injured Kurt Magro.
Tarxien broke the stalemate in their first foray inside Mosta’s half after six minutes.
Adrian Carabott engineered the move as his incursion down the right unsettled Mosta. He charged towards the bye-line and into the box before guiding an inviting pass towards the centre. Ricardo Costa allowed the cross to roll towards Luiz Romulo de Castro who drove his shot past Jonathan Debono.
Mosta’s riposte produced an effort from Florent Raimy that flew wide of the far post.
Lifted by their early breakthrough, Tarxien produced the more cohesive stuff in the initial stages as Mosta looked somewhat disjointed.
This was evident when the Blues failed to deal with Tanti’s corner as first Ricardo and then Daniel Mariano Bueno aimed shots at goal but Debono was on the right spot to save.
The Rainbows then breathed a sigh of relief when Orosco Ano-nam’s miscued clearance from Zammit’s cross sent the ball flying just past the near post.
Theirs was a temporary reprieve as, on the half-hour, Mosta won a penalty after Ricardo Costa was adjudged to have blocked Yannick Ossok’s shot with his arms.
Obinna Obiefule made no mistake from the spot.
The game descended into a scrappy affair.
Four minutes from half-time, there was a bizarre moment in the Tarxien box as a seemingly innocuous cross trickled between the dithering Fenech and Vella but the Rainbows managed to clear.
Five minutes into the second half, substitute Jimmy Mayasi pulled away from Tisbi to reach a Bueno pass but his volley was wide off target.
Bueno then headed over from De Castro’s free-kick but the game remained generally dull despite the presence of several attacking players in both teams.
It was Tarxien who, driven by De Castro’s movement, began to dominate possession as Mosta remained short of inspiration.
A brilliant interchange between De Castro and Bueno prised open the Mosta defence as the former glided into the box before rifling a shot that produced a brilliant save from Debono.
Tarxien’s supremacy was rewarded three minutes from time.
Bueno embarked on a surging run down the right wing before laying the ball back for Tanti who scored with a crisp finish, much to the delight of his team-mates and all on the Rainbows’ bench.
Tarxien Rainbows: N. Vella-6, S. Sadowski-6, C. Mamo-7, M. Caruana-6 (82 J. Vella), A. Carabott-6.5 (77 K. Pulo), Ricardo-5 (43 J. Mayasi-5.5), M. Tanti-7, D.M. Bueno-7, L. De Castro-7.5, O. Anonam-6.5, C. Fenech-6.
Mosta: J. Debono-6.5, A. Borg-5, A. Cini-5, F. Tisbi-6.5, Y. Ossok-6.5, F. Raimy-5.5, J. Bajada-4, D. Falzon-5 (67 F. Aboulezz-5), G. Martin-5.5, O. Obiefule-5, I. Zammit-5.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards: Bueno; Falzon; De Castro; Mayasi; Mamo; Martin.
BOV player of the match: Luiz Romulo De Castro (Tarxien).