MELITA-0, TARXIEN RAINBOWS-3
Daniel Mariano Bueno scored a first-half brace as Tarxien Rainbows beat relegation strugglers Melita 3-0 to secure a place in the Championship Pool.
With only two games left before the end of the first phase, Tarxien have opened up an unassailable lead over Balzan and Qormi, regardless of the result of the latter's match against Mosta in tomorrow's second match.
Melita would have moved out of the bottom two for the first time this season had they won today but they were no match for the Rainbows.
After a scrappy opening, it was Tarxien who created the first chance when Marco Tulio Lopes Silva crossed for Daniel Mariano Bueno whose header was saved by Karl Zahra, the Melita goalkeeper.
Midway into the second half, Tarxien opened the scoring. Andrezinho's free-kick was parried away by Zahra but the ball rolled to Bueno who fired home.Tarxien continued to play the better football. A dangerous Bueno effort was touched away by Zahra who rescued Melita again when beating away Justin Grioli's shot.
From the ensuing corner, on 31 minutes, Lopes Silva supplied a dangerous cross from the right, Ryan Sammut's header came off the woodwork but Bueno was again on the right spot to volley the ball home.
A mistake by Melita in midfield gifted Tarxien an opening as Andrew Agius ran forward before serving Bueno whose angled effort ended just wide.The erstwhile disjointed Melita finally produced a chance of their own when Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho's piledriver came off the crossbar.
Melita started the second half more aggressively but it was Tarxien who threatened to add to their lead when Agius powered his way into the box only to shoot wide with only Zahra to beat.
On 57 minutes, Tarxien goalkeeper David Cassar denied Melita when he blocked Luke Micallef's close-range effort.Four minutes later,. Tarxien thought they had scored again when Lopes Silva's corner flew towards the unmarked Branislav Timotic whose point-blank header looked destined to beat Zahra who managed to get a hand to the ball.
Tarxien claimed that the ball had already crossed the line when Zahra intervened but the match officials were unmoved.With 12 minutes left, Tarxien sealed their win when Leandro, who had replaced Lopes Silva, slotted home after receiving from Mark Tanti.
Bueno was named BOV player of the match.