Tarxien Rainbows 1
Caruana 90;
Sliema Wanderers 1
Bianciardi 41;

Tarxien Rainbows went to great lengths to complete the signing of midfielder Triston Caruana from neighbouring Hibernians in the close season and their efforts paid instant dividends yesterday.

Trailing to Stefano Bianciardi’s fortuitous opener late in the first half of their opening Premier League encounter with Sliema Wanderers, Tarxien rescued a point at the death thanks to Caruana’s well-placed header.

It was a deserved point for this new-look Tarxien side as they were the more adventurous side in the second half with Sliema, for whom Bianciardi was outstanding, conceding ground to their opponents and resorting to long balls to Michael Mifsud as the Rainbows pressed for an equaliser in the second half.

The Wanderers lined up in a 3-5-1-1 formation with new Italian signing Andrea Pisanu handed probing duties behind striker Mifsud.

Clive Mizzi’s selection was replete with new faces as the likes of goalkeeper Jonathan Debono, defenders Alex Cini, Kane Farrugia and Owen Bugeja, Caruana and Brazilians Alvaro, Wesley and Alessandro all made their competitive bow for the Rainbows.

Tactics-wise, Mizzi also switched to a three-man defence, marshalled by Lopes, while up front, Wesley, better known as Pipico, was supported by Alvaro.

Both teams struggled to find a semblance of rhythm in the early stages.

It was Tarxien who recorded the first attempt at goal as Caruana’s long-range effort was saved in two attempts by Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper.

The erstwhile quiet Mifsud came to life on 19 minutes, darting menacingly between two defenders to latch on to Paltemio Barbetti’s long ball but the Malta captain’s half-volley was deflected away for a corner.

Midway into the first half, Mifsud threatened again. Running on to a reverse pass from Pisanu, he outwitted his markers with a series of feints but his grounder from an angled position rolled across the face of goal after coming off a Tarxien defender.

In their next foray, Tarxien almost broke the deadlock as Alessandro’s powerful incursion took him past the static Sliema defenders but his sizzling shot, hit towards the near post, was kept out by Zammit with the aid of the woodwork.

The exchanges remained lively with Sliema going close with a well-struck shot from Scerri that Debono did well to push over the bar.

A measured pass from Jorge, whose constant drifting from the right wing was a feature of Tarxien’s game in the opening stages, set up Wesley who swept past three defenders but his effort was diverted away for a corner.

It was Sliema who seized the lead four minutes from half-time thanks to Bianciardi whose glancing header, from a Pisanu corner, came off the post and ricocheted off two defenders before dropping into the net.

At half-time, Mizzi reverted to a four-man defence and brought on midfielder Carlinos for Ryan Sammut.

Alfonso Greco, the Sliema coach, introduced Beppe Muscat for Scozzese who picked up an injury.

Four minutes into the second half, Alvaro burst into the box but his grounder was off target.

Another fine cross from Pisanu, from a corner, threatened to undo the Tarxien defence but Marko Potezica’s header landed wide of the far post.

On the hour, Zammit blocked a dangerous run by Wesley who had been put through by Alvaro.

Tarxien moved through the gears as the second half gathered momentum. Zammit fisted 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 equalised when Wesley headed Jorge’s corner into the net but the Brazilian striker was offside.

With 16 minutes remaining, Pisanu produced a dipping free-kick that brushed against the upright.

The Wanderers, now playing with four at the back, breathed a sigh of relief when Jorge’s dangerous shot flashed past the far post.

Barbetti then let fly a thunderous shot from a free-kick but the ball sailed over the bar.

Just when it looked as though Greco’s men had done enough to hold on to their lead, Tarxien levelled deep into stoppage time.

Alvaro floated a teasing ball into the Sliema penalty area from a free-kick and Caruana rose highest to send a backward header soaring over Zammit.

Tarxien Rainbows
J. Debono-6, K. Farrugia-5.5, M. Caruana-5.5 (69 M. Tabone-6), O. Bugeja-6, A.A. Rodrigues Silva-7, T. Caruana-6.5, Wesley Lima Silva-6.5, R. Sammut-4 (46 Carlinos-6), A. Cini-6.5, A. Lopes-6 (69 Clebinho-5), Jorge-7.5.

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6.5, A. Muscat-6, A. Scozzese-6 (46 B. Muscat-5.5), M. Potezica-6, J. Mintoff-5 (89 L. Martinelli), M. Scerri-6, M. Mifsud-6, A. Pisanu-6 (74 T. Cilia), C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, P. Barbetti-6.5, S. Bianciardi-8.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Zammit; Pisanu; Carlinos; Bugeja; Barbetti.

BOV player of the match: Stefano Bianciardi (Sliema Wanderers).

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