Tarxien Rainbows 2
Evaldo 37; Bueno 90;
Balzan 1
Pedrinho 13;

Tarxien Rainbows and Balzan had traded attacks but a stalemate looked on the cards as, with the game trickling into stoppage time, the score was still one-all.

Casting caution to the wind in pursuit of their first win of the season, Tarxien and Balzan had served up an action-packed second half but the two goalkeepers seemed on a mission to make amends for conceding soft goals in the first period as they produced a series of fine saves.

Balzan had also been denied by the woodwork but, in a late barrage, it was Tarxien who snatched a late winner as a breakaway culminated in a close-range goal by Daniel Mariano Bueno who finally broke Matthew Camilleri’s resistance.

The win extended Clive Mizzi’s positive start as Tarxien coach with the Blues taking four points in the two games they have played under the former Mqabba mentor.

Brazilian striker Danilo was back in the fray for Tarxien after serving a one-match ban. He replaced fellow countryman Luiz Romulo De Castro who failed to recover from injury.

The other change in Clive Mizzi’s selection from the 1-1 draw with Ħamrun Spartans saw debutant David Fenech taking the place of Mark Tanti with the former Mqabba midfielder partnering Roderick Bajada in central midfield.

Balzan coach Ivan Zammit rang the changes after the 3-1 loss to Floriana as Renato Conceicao, Christian Caruana and Martin Deanov were drafted into the line-up.

Nine minutes into the game, Elton advanced unimpeded in the inside-right channel before crossing for Pedrinho who lifted his shot over the bar.

Balzan came through a shaky start to gain the initiative and their improvement reaped instant rewards as, on 12 minutes, Pedrinho’s curling free-kick caught David Cassar by surprise as the Tarxien goalkeeper was beaten at the near post.

Tarxien, who played 4-2-3-1, stirred. They came close to an equaliser on 21 minutes when Bajada, lurking on the right, found the nippy Andre Reinaldo with a perfectly-weighted cross. Reinaldo duly whipped in another teasing cross but Evaldo’s glancing header skimmed the crossbar.

Matthew Camilleri, the Balzan goalkeeper, did well to push Danilo’s long-range effort for a corner after Tarxien had broke on the counter. The move started from a quickly-taken free-kick deep in Tarxien’s half, given for a handsball by Pedrinho when it appeared that the Brazilian had been pushed by two Rainbows players before grabbing the ball with his hands.

The Rainbows would have equalised on 28 minutes but for a magnificent save from Camilleri who instinctively dived to his right to keep out Daniel Mariano Bueno’s header.

The pressure from Tarxien increased as Mizzi’s men embarked on a series of raids on the wings and put in several crosses which seriously tested the aerial ability of the Balzan defenders.

Apart from Jamie Pace, whose chief task was to shield Balzan’s back four, the other midfielders in the Reds’ team were attack-minded as Dylan Grima, Caruana, Deanov and Elton were expected to offer support to Pedrinho.

With eight minutes of the first half remaining, Tarxien gained a deserved equaliser as Evaldo’s long-range free-kick deceived Camilleri who dived late.

Evaldo’s deadball expertise was in evidence again four minutes from half-time but this time the Brazilian’s swinging free-kick was pawed away by Camilleri.

Sensing his team’s troubles to cope with Tarxien’s threat on the right, Zammit introduced Renie Forace, a left-back, for Deanov.

Elton had a good chance to put Balzan ahead but volleyed wide after receiving from Pedrinho. This came on 56 minutes.

Tarxien were also dangerous when Reinaldo’s free-kick from the right caused havoc in the Balzan box but Danilo’s effort brought another fine save from Camilleri.

The start to the second half had been somewhat quiet but the rhythm picked up.

Cassar was prominent when tipping Pedrinho’s free-kick over the bar. From the ensuing corner, taken by Pedrinho, Caruana’s header was punched away by Cassar.

The goalkeepers’ show continued as Camilleri effected another fine save to smother away Danilo’s thunderbolt.

Bueno flicked the ball into the net from Justin Grioli’s low cross but the Brazilian controlled the ball with his hand. With 17 minutes left, Bueno left Forace in his wake only to drive wide from an angled position.

The flurry of attacks continued, Cassar parrying another Pedrinho free-kick and Conceicao hitting the woodwork with a first-time scorcher.

The Rainbows, now playing 4-4-2, were again denied by Camilleri who pulled off another vital save from Fenech’s piledriver after the latter had been sent clear by Bajada.

But, Balzan’s reprieve was temporary as, on the cusp of time, Tarxien struck the winner.

Latching on to Reinaldo’s long ball, Danilo strode clear, lifted the ball over the on-rushing Camilleri and then squared to Bueno who buried the ball home at the far post.

Tarxien
D. Cassar-7.5, C. Mamo-6.5, Evaldo-7, J. Grioli-6.5, R. Bajada-6.5, Danilo-6.5, Andre Reinaldo-6.5, K. Pulo-5 (62 M. Tanti-6), D.M. Bueno-6.5, D. Fenech-6.5, O. Anonam-6.5.

Balzan
M. Camilleri-8, Y. Camilleri-6, S. Giglio-6, R. Conceicao-6.5, M. Mendy-5, J. Pace-5.5, C. Caruana-5 (74 B. Bondin), D. Grima-6 (78 A. Agius), Elton-5, Pedrinho-8, M. Deanov-5 (57 R. Forace-5).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Giglio; Bajada; Fenech; Bueno; Elton.

BOV Player of the match: Pedrinho (Balzan).

Standings