Action from the semi-final first leg between Hibernians and Tarxien Rainbows. Photo: Joe Borg

The Premier League Championship play-offs kicked off last weekend with the first legs from the semi-finals, Balzan-Tarxien Rainbows and Hibernians-Żejtun Corinthians.

Defending champions Balzan came from behind to overcome a stern challenge from Tarxien 5-3.

With no fewer than five Romanian players on the field, Cosmin and Florin Anton for Balzan, and Gabriel Dobre, Emil Raducu and Andrei Brasoveanu for the Rainbows, all was set for a balanced encounter.

Cosmin Anton opened the score for Balzan in the second minute but Raducu and Steve Gambin put the Rainbows ahead. Glenn Bonello levelled the scores at two-all just before half-time.

Dobre put Tarxien once again in the lead soon after the break but Bonello was quick enough to make it 3-3.

The next three minutes proved fatal for the Rainbows as Balzan scored twice through Cosmin and Florin Anton to seal victory and open a two-goal cushion ahead of today’s second leg.

In the other semi-final, Hibs beat Żejtun 8-4, putting them firm favourites to reach the championship final.

Hibs opened strongly with a Cedric Sciberras goal and a Giorgi Grasimov double to go 3-0 up.

Marev Blogovist’s goal just before half-time put Hibs in the driving seat for the rest of the game. Sciberras and Boicho Marev made it 6-0 before the Corinthians pulled two goals back through Charlo Magrò and Bojan Nimic.

Edwin Gauci was red-carded for Żejtun for a late tackle and Sciberras profited to crown his excellent performance with a third goal.

Nimic and Magro added another goal each to reduce the deficit to 7-4, but Marev’s goal for Hibs made the Corinthians’ recovery in the second leg a difficult task.

Playing today
Semi-finals, second legs: 19.45 Tarxien Rainbows vs Balzan; 21.15 Żejtun Corinthians vs Hibernians.