Tarxien Rainbows 2
Alvaro 58; Wesley 66;
Naxxar Lions 1
Edet 70;
Only the three points mattered for Tarxien Rainbows and Naxxar Lions.
Both had failed to win in their opening four games as Tarxien were involved in four consecutive draws while the Lions had only managed two points.
In an up-and-down contest, it was Tarxien who had the final say, thanks largely to the flair of their Brazilian forwards, but the Rainbows again made life difficult for themselves as they contrived to miss a couple of scoring chances, allowing Naxxar back into the game.
Bar a short spell in the first half, Naxxar were lacklustre for most of the match before rallying in the closing minutes but their confused reaction only produced a series of speculative shots towards the end.
Brazilian forwards Alvaro and Wesley spearheaded Tarxien’s 4-1-3-2 formation with Manuel Caruana sitting in front of defence.
Naxxar coach Winston Muscat handed a first-team recall to Terence Vella after the striker’s last-minute salvo in the 1-1 draw against Mosta.
Vella was the central striker in Naxxar’s 4-3-3 approach with the roaming Gilmar interchanging with Emenike Uchenna Mbachy on the left and Pape Gueye on the right.
Wesley tested waters with a diagonal shot that sailed past the post.
A period of disjointed football followed with both teams struggling for inspiration. Midway into the first half, Gilmar’s free-kick was nodded on by Ibok Edet but Andrew Scicluna’s follow-on header was high.
At the other end, Triston Caruana created space for a shot but his effort was deflected away for a corner. Lopes headed wide from Alvaro’s set-piece cross.
The game became more lively. Breaking forward on the counter, Alvaro, released by Wesley’s crisp pass, breezed into the box but he took a touch too many and Julian Azzopardi, the Lions goalkeeper, came out to block.
The best chance of the first half came Naxxar’s way as Gilmar, sprinting clear through the middle, slipped the ball to Mbachy but the Nigerian dithered on the ball and was closed down by Alex Cini.
Naxxar went through the gears. They should have gone ahead when Edet lifted the ball towards Gueye but the Senegalese’s goalbound flick was deflected wide of the near post.
On the cusp of half-time, Wesley, lurking near the halfway line, spotted Azzopardi out of goal and hit an audacious chip that sailed over the bar.
At the start of the second half, Angus Buhagiar, who has been sidelined with injury, came on for Ryan Gilmour Cassar.
Azzopardi rescued Naxxar from a potentially menacing situation when intercepting Alvaro after Wesley’s free-kick was deflected into the path of his Brazilian compatriot.
Jorge came on for Tabone as Mizzi looked to infuse more flair into his team.
After Azzopardi saved a strong drive from Wesley, Tarxien’s Brazilians combined to give their team the lead.
Receiving the ball in the inside-right channel, Wesley directed a pass to the advancing Jorge who dragged the ball back for Alvaro and Tarxien’s no.7 rifled home at the near post.
Tarxien appealed for a penalty when Alvaro went down under Edet’s challenge but referee Clayton Pisani was unmoved.
Alvaro was running the show now. The Brazilian contributed to Tarxien’s second goal as he dashed into the box and delivered a pass that was deflected by Mattia Del Negro with the ball appearing to glance off Wesley as it rolled into the net.
Naxxar, now with three at the back, gained a lifeline when Edet leapt above his markers to head Del Negro’s cross into the far corner.
An exciting finale beckoned but Jorge almost killed off Naxxar’s hopes but his stunning shot cannoned off the crossbar.
Tarxien threatened again but Alvaro’s curler was pawed away by Azzopardi.
As the Lions upped their pressure, forcing a series of corners, Gilmar volleyed wide.
Another prolonged Naxxar attack saw Buhagiar deliver a teasing cross into the box, Mbachy’s effort was blocked and, from the rebound, Falzon fired wide.
Tarxien Rainbows
S. Cini-6.5, K. Farrugia-5.5, M. Caruana-6, O. Bugeja-6, Alvaro-7.5 (87 Clebinho), T. Caruana-6, Wesley-7 (90 R. Sammut), C. Menendez-6.5, A. Cini-7, M. Tabone-5 (56 Jorge-7), Alessandro Lopes-7.
Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6.5, A. Scicluna-5, I. Edet-6.5, V. Bellia-5.5 (76 D. Falzon), T. Vella-5, M. Del Negro-5.5, P. Gueye-5.5, Gilmar-6, R.G. Cassar-5.5 (46 A. Buhagiar-6), D.A. Reano-5 (69 P. Doffo-6), E.U. Mbachy-5.5.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Tabone; Edet; Alessandro; Reano; Alvaro; Gilmar.
BOV player of the match: Alvaro (Tarxien Rainbows).