Wesley, the Tarxien Rainbows forward, finds his way blocked by Żebbuġ Rangers duo Lee Galea (left) and Carlo Monti, yesterday. Photo: Paul Zammit CutajarŻebbuġ Rangers 3
Monti 28, 53 pen; Britto 68;
Tarxien Rainbows 3
Wesley 1; Alvaro 25; Caruana 51;
Tarxien and Żebbuġ were yesterday involved in a six-goal thriller that kept those present on the edge of their seats for most of the match.
The final scoreline must have left Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi gutted as his team missed out on chalking up their first win of the season after twice surrendering a two-goal lead.
But credit to the Rangers for refusing to lie down. Inspired by the fine play of Mathias Muchardi and Carlo Monti and the movement of Mauricio Britto, they battled back to win a point, their first of the season.
Mizzi handed a starting berth to midfielder Carlos Hevia who replaced the injured Jorge while Ryan Sammut was preferred to Kane Farrugia at right-back.
Jesmond Zammit, the Rangers coach, handed a debut to striker Bojan Mamic. The Serbian was preferred to Ratko Mandic who was not in the 18-man squad. Jacob Borg regained his place in the team but Thomas Paris was out.
Tarxien could not have hoped for a better start as they were already ahead inside the opening minute. Triston Caruana profited from some poor positional play by the Żebbuġ rearguard to send a throughball towards Wesley who calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.
The Rainbows continued to pile the pressure on Rangers and Wesley alone could have scored a hat-trick inside the opening 10 minutes.
First, the Brazilian sped past Yessous Camilleri but his drive was pushed away by Farrugia. Two minutes later he ran into space but his lob lacked precision.
Żebbuġ were struggling to contain the Rainbows’ swift attacking play and on 21 minutes, Wesley served the sprinting Alvaro whose firm drive finished just over.
Tarxien’s pressure yielded a second goal and again it was their Brazilian forwards who made all the spadework. Wesley did well to release Alvaro who beat Farrugia with a rasping drive.
Żebbuġ refused to give up, though, and soon they reopened the issue when Borg picked Monti who unleashed an unstoppable volley past keeper Sean Cini.
Monti’s goal spurred the Rangers into action and ten minutes before the break they went close but Muchardi’s rising shot just missed the target.
The newcomers went even closer on 40 minutes when Britto was put through by Mamic but, with only Cini to beat, he fired wide.
Tarxien took just six second-half minutes to restore their two-goal lead when Wesley picked Triston Caruana who beat Matthew Bartolo’s challenge before hitting past Farrugia.
But Żebbuġ were back in it two minutes later. Owen Bugeja was adjudged to have fouled Muchardi just inside the area and from the penalty, Monti drilled the ball past Cini.
Wesley almost made it 4-2 but his goalbound header was cleared off the line by Javier Diaz Serrano.
Zammit withdrew Borg and introduced John Nwoba. The substitution proved a masterstroke as a minute later, Nwoba raced clear on the left before teeing up Britto who beat Cini with a firm drive.
Tarxien were stunned and now it was Żebbuġ who looked the likelier team to score again.
Britto hit a scorching shot from the edge of the area that went just wide but the Rainbows could have won it at the death when Manuel Caruana connected to Alvaro’s corner but his header finished just over.
Żebbuġ Rangers
J. Farrugia-5.5, L. Galea-5, J. Diaz Serrano-6, Y. Camilleri-5, J. Borg-5.5 (67 J. Nwoba-6), C. Gauci-6, M. Bartolo-5, M. Muchardi-6.5, C. Monti-7, B. Mamic-5.5 (83 M. Gauci-6), M. Britto-7 (90 L.J. Agius).
Tarxien Rainbows
S. Cini-5, M. Caruana-6, O. Bugeja-5.5, Alvaro-6.5, Cleber-6 (72 F. Aboulezz), T. Caruana-6.5, Wesley-7.5, R. Sammut-6, C. Hevia-6, A. Cini-5, A. Lopes Pereira-5.5.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Alvaro; Lopes Pereira; Borg.
BOV player of the match: Wesley (Tar-xien Rainbows).