Tarxien Rainbows 1
Tanti 43;
Birkirkara 4
Mifsud Triganza 4, 17, 67; Camenzuli 90;
The pressure was all on Birkirkara to get back on track following the painful defeat to Sliema Wan-derers the week before.
That upset had punctured the Stripes’ invicible aura following four consecutive victories but yesterday Paul Zammit’s side bounced back in convincing manner as Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Jhonnattann teamed up perfectly to help Birkirkara thrash the hapless Tarxien.
Mifsud Triganza helped himself to a hat-trick whereas Brazilian Jhonnattann was the provider in most of his team’s attacking moves, terrorising the Rainbows rearguard with his direct running.
Coach Clive Mizzi made only one change from the Melita win, midfielder Luiz Romulo de Castro taking the place of Danilo Meira Santos who was among the Tar-xien substitutes.
Mifsud Triganza was included in Birkirkara’s starting line-up as defender Zach Muscat began on the bench.
And the game was only four minutes old when Mifsud Triganza rose majestically to meet Edward Herrera’s cross and thump an unstoppable header past David Cassar.
Jhonnattann picked up the ball on the halfway line and sped towards the ’ area before serving the overlapping Herrera who delivered the ball into the box for Mifsud Triganza to open the score.
But the Stripes’ sloppiness in possession almost cost them dear two minutes later, when Esposito broke clear but he could only manage a half-hearted effort off the target.
Birkirkara’s response came via Mifsud Triganza, again. Indeed, his workrate in attack was sorely missed against the Wanderers last week.
The sight of Jhonnattann advancing unchallenged caused panic inside the Tarxien rearguard on 17 minutes and Mifsud Tri-ganza took advantage of some poor defending turning the ball in from close range.
On 34 minutes, Orosco Anonam got in front of Shodiya Haruana to cut out Mifsud Triganza’s low cross from the left.
Tarxien’s first-half display did not merit a goal, but they found the net on 43 minutes when Daniel Mariano Bueno’s long-range shot was too hot to handle for Birkirkara keeper Reuben Gauci and Mark Tanti, who had followed the action, duly tapped the ball home from close in to halve the deficit.
The Stripes ended the half on a disappointing note but started the second period more confidently.
In the 52nd minute, a superb cross by Mifsud Triganza fell to Jhonnattann who tried to unbalance Cassar but the Tarxien goalkeeper was up to task to block his effort.
The Rainbows suffered a double blow just before the hour mark as midfielder De Castro and de-fender Anonam both limped out injured in quick succession.
Yet, Tarxien’s chances took another nosedive a few moments later when Evaldo was sent off for elbowing.
Eight minutes later, Mifsud Triganza added to Tarxien’s woes as he completed his hat-trick with a well-placed grounder.
Fastening on to an accurate pass from Jhonnattann, Mifsud Triganza outpaced the defence before sending the ball behind Cassar and into the net.
Still Birkirkrara were not finished, sub Ryan Camenzuli scored a superb fourth goal late on, beating his markers down the left before a shot from a tight angle went in off Cassar.
Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-4.5, C. Mamo-5, Evaldo, J. Grioli-5, R. Bajada-6.5, Reinaldo-5, M. Tanti-5.5 (61 Danilo-4), D. Bueno-5.5, L. De Castro-5.5 (51 M. Caruana-4), D. Fenech-5, O. Anonam-6 (55 S. Bonnici-4).
Birkirkara
R. Gauci-5.5, N. Vukanac-5.5, A. Mendoza-5.5, Jhonnattann-7, S. Sho-diya-5 (74 Joselito), G. Sciberras-6.5, P. Fenech-6.5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-8 (78 Z. Muscat), J. Zerafa-5.5 (62 R. Camenzuli-6), E. Herrera-6, R. Muscat-6.
Referee: Richard Harrington (Wales).
Yellow cards: Evaldo, de Castro, Zerafa, Bueno.
Red card: Evaldo (T) 59.
Man of the match: Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara).