Mosta 0
Tarxien Rainbows 3
Bueno 34, 43, 80;

Tarxien broke their duck in this season’s Championship Pool with a convincing victory over Mosta yesterday that enabled the Rainbows to bridge the gap with fourth-placed Sliema Wanderers.

Daniel Mariano Bueno was the catalyst of Tarxien’s success as the Brazilian hit two goals in the opening period to put his team on course for a comfortable win.

That two-goal blitz killed off Mosta’s hopes of causing an upset as the Rainbows remained in total control throughout with Bueno completing his hat-trick ten minutes from time.

Mosta coach Danilo Doncic made only one change from the team that slumped to a heavy defeat to Valletta, striker Bruno Chikmado Mbonu taking the place of defender Steve Chimieka in what appeared to be a last-minute change.

On his part, Tarxien mentor Clive Mizzi reshuffled his line-up. He decided to rotate his goalkeepers as Nicky Vella started ahead of David Cassar with Orosco Anonam and Mark Tanti also handed first-team recalls.

Roderick Bajada began on the bench as Andrezinho was suspended. He drafted Anonam in defence with Bueno deployed as the most advanced player in a 4-2-3-1 formation which had Tanti, Marco Lopes and Leandro pushing through the middle.

Captain Fabio Vignaroli an-chored the Mosta midfield in front of the back four, with Ryan Grech, Kurt Magro and Jonathan Bajada all given the licence to push on and join the front two in a 4-1-3-2 configuration.

Tarxien threatened to open the scoring after three minutes when Bueno’s inswinging cross-cum-shot soared into the area with Fernando Apap coming to his side’s rescue when clearing the danger.

Mosta had been restricted to speculative vertical balls in the initial stages but when Danial Mitev received the ball in the inside right-channel, danger loomed for the Rainbows but Vella leaped to his left to palm away his shot.

After 28 minutes, Tyrone Farrugia’s short clearance dropped into Bueno’s feet but Jeffrey Farrugia, the Mosta goalkeeper spared his team-mate’s blushes.

There was no reprieve for the Mosta defender six minutes later, though. Latching onto a long ball forward, Bueno chipped Farrugia and then held off the challenge of Manolito Micallef before guiding a diagonal shot past Farrugia via the foot of the post.

Tarxien didn’t have to wait long for their second.

Tanti laid the groundwork as his long pass from midfield bypassed a host of Mosta players and landed into the path of Bueno who ran forward before hitting a grounder into the far post.

It was again Tarxien who served up a quick reminder of their attacking prowess inside the first minute of the second half.

A fast exchange of passes between Marco Tulio Lopes and Bueno saw the latter trying to lift the ball over Farrugia but the goalkeeper showed quick reactions as he tipped the effort over the bar.

The second period was largely bereft of goalmouth action but much of the activity still took place in the Mosta half.

In the 51st minute, Bueno went close to add a third with a fizzing shot that Farrugia punched away.

Bueno completed his hat-trick after 80 minutes when he was first to substitute David Fenech’s curling free-kick and his glancing header flew behind Farrugia to the delight of the Tarxien fans.

Jonathan Bajada should have reduced the deficit for Mosta a minute from time when he powered his way through the Tarxien defence but his cute lob over Vella finished over.

Mosta
J. Farrugia-5.5, F. Apap-5, T. Farrugia-4.5, M. Micallef-5, C. Campagnoli-5 (83 O. Okoro), R. Grech-5, J. Bajada-5, D. Mitev-6, K. Magro-5 (62 B. Agius-4), F. Vignaroli-5, B. Mbonu-4.

Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella-6, C. Mamo-6, M. Caruana-6, M. Lopes-6.5 (69 G. Calabretta), A. Agius-6 (81 R. Bajada), Leandro-5.5 (74 D. Fenech), R. Sammut-6.5, M. Tanti-6.5, D. M. Bueno-8, O. Anonam-6.5, S. Bonnici-6.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Magro; Bonnici; Apap; Anonam.

BOV Player of the match: Daniel Mariano Bueno (Tarxien Rainbows).

Standings

  P W D L F A Pts
Valletta 24 14 8 2 54 15 27
Hibernians 24 15 3 6 50 25 26
Birkirkara 24 13 7 4 48 20 25
Sliema 24 12 5 7 35 22 23
Tarxien 24 12 5 7 42 35 22
Mosta 24 11 1 12 39 41 17
               
Balzan 24 8 7 9 38 38 18
Qormi 24 10 3 11 35 36 18
Floriana 24 6 10 8 29 33 16
Ħamrun 24 5 4 15 27 62 11
Rabat 24 2 8 14 19 48 9
Melita 24 3 5 16 19 60 7

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