TARXIEN RAINBOWS-1, SLIEMA WANDERERS-1
Triston Caruana marked his Tarxien debut with a stoppage-time goal as the Rainbows came from a goal down to hold Sliema Wanderers to a draw in their opening 2014/15 Premier League game.
Tarxien Rainbows created the first attempt when Triston Caruana's long-range shot was saved by Glenn Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper.
Mark Scerri's drive for Sliema ended high.
On 19 minutes, Michael Mifsud sped through to reach Paltemio Barbetti's long pass but his half-volley was deflected away for a corner.
Midway into the first half, Mifsud threatened again. Sprinting on to a pass from new signing Andrea Pisanu, Mifsud outfoxed his markers with a series of feints but his grounder from an angled position rolled across the face of the goal.
In their next attack, Tarxien almost broke the deadlock as Alvaro's powerful run took him past the static Sliema defenders but his fierce shot, hit towards the near post, was kept out by Zammit.
The exchanges remained lively with Sliema going close with a Scerri piledriver that was pushed over the bar by Debono.
At the other end, a perfect pass from Jorge set up Wesley who swept past three defenders but his effort was diverted away for a corner.
Sliema grabbed the lead five minutes from half-time thanks to defender Stefano Bianciardi whose firm header, from a Pisanu corner, cannoned off the base of the post and came off two defenders before dropping into the net.
Four minutes into the second half, Alvaro sped into the box but his grounder was off target.
Another menacing cross from Pisanu, from a corner, threatened to inflict further damage on Tarxien but Marko Potezica's header landed wide of the far post.
On the hour, Zammit, the Sliema keeper, blocked a dangerous run by Wesley who had been released by Alvaro.
Tarxien brought more intensity to their game as the second half progressed. Zammit punched away a cross by Carlinos, sending the ball into the path of Jorge who hit wide from an angled position.
The Rainbows thought they had scored when Wesley nodded Jorge's corner into the net but the Brazilian striker was offside.
With 16 minutes remaining, Pisanu hit a dipping free-kick that skimmed the upright.
Tarxien replied with a dangerous shot from Jorge which sailed past the far upright.
Barbetti then rifled a thunderous shot from a free-kick but the ball sailed over the bar.
A win for Sliema looked on the cards as the game moved into stoppage time but Tarxien equalised through new signing Triston Caruana whose backheader from Alvaro's free-kick flew over Zammit and into the net.
Sliema defender Stefano Bianciardi was named BOV player of the match.