Tarxien Rainbows 2
Darlington 20, 30;
Mosta 1
Babangida 45;
Tarxien Rainbows still have work to do to retain their Premier League status but they appear to have clicked into gear at the right time.
Until a week ago, the Rainbows looked dead and buried as they were rooted to the bottom of the standings after losing seven games in a row.
But a last-gasp victory over Naxxar Lions last Monday has clearly given Tarxien a new lease of life.
Their optimism rose further yesterday as the Rainbows turned in another enterprising performance to overcome Mosta, a win that lifted them out of the bottom three for the first time in many months.
It was a deserved win for the well-drilled Rainbows as they were the more energetic side for long stretches.
Obinna Darlington was their hero as the Nigerian struck a brace but, despite their superiority, Tarxien had to dig in at the end as their failure to take their chances, albeit being twice denied by the woodwork, kept Mosta in contention after Haruna Babangida had pulled one back on the brink of half-time.
Tarxien Rainbows coach Clive Mizzi set his team out in a 3-5-2 formation with captain Manuel Caruana shielding the defence and Darlington lining up alongside Edu Vallecillo in attack.
The return of Cameroonian right-back Rodriguez Ekani was a tonic for Mosta who all but eased their relegation worries after their 3-2 victory over Pietà Hotspurs.
Coach Peter Smith kept faith with Udo Fortune up front despite his below-par showing against the Hotspurs. Mosta’s 4-2-3-1 approach had Babangida and the young James Brincat pushing up the wings with Ian Zammit in the proverbial hole but the former Valletta midfielder hobbled off midway into the first half.
As the boisterous Hibs fans left the stadium, a wall of silence descended on the National Stadium.
The few loyal Tarxien supporters who turned up for the match did try to ramp up the volume and their team began to respond to their exhortations.
Driven on by Firas Aboulezz, the Rainbows seized the upperhand, Vallecillo, Tarxien’s hero in their 1-0 victory over Naxxar Lions, headed against the foot of the post from Aboulezz’s corner.
Moments later, Aboulezz was marginally wide from the distance.
Close to the 20th minute mark, the Tarxien midfielder again made headway through the middle but his piledriver was pushed away for a corner by Omar Borg, the Mosta goalkeeper.
From the ensuing corner, Aboulezz’s cross arched into the six-yard box and Darlington glanced home from point blank.
The early exchanges suggested that Tarxien were hungrier for the points than the slow-starting Mosta as Mizzi’s men were by far the more industrious side.
Their efforts were rewarded with a second goal on the half-hour. Alex Cini began the move, racing forward on the right before releasing Vallecillo whose swerving cross was met by Darlington, the Nigerian heading in at the far post.
Mosta’s inertia was there for all to see when Jose Godar Pereira was allowed a clean run at goal but his effort was parried away by Borg. The loose ball sailed toward Vallecillo but the Spaniard was intercepted by the alert Dyson Falzon.
At last, Mosta strung up a flowing move as Ekani charged forward before passing to Alieu Darbo who quickly served Babangida but the Nigerian was denied by Sean Mintoff, the Tarxien goalkeeper.
Tarxien responded immediately.
Vallecillo surged clear but his strike was turned away by Borg.
Four minutes from half-time, Kurt Magro directed a perfect pass to Babangida who miscued his effort.
As the end of the first half loomed large, Mosta stirred. They were initially denied by Mintoff who tipped away Koli’s drive after Tarxien had partially cleared Magro’s free-kick.
Darbo, who had come on for Zammit, took the corner, his cross causing a scramble in the six-yard box as Babangida rifled home to resurrect Mosta’s hopes.
When the second half got under way, it was Tarxien who called the early shots. Borg saved Vallecillo’s free-kick and, shortly afterwards, the woodwork came to Mosta’s rescue as Triston Caruana’s screamer rattled the post.
Pereira hit a shot from the distance but Borg did well to save.
Second best so far, Mosta threatened to equalise when Darbo’s angled volley dropped wide of the far post.
Vallecillo should have restored Tarxien’s two-goal lead on the hour mark but the Spaniard rifled over from a great position.
As in the first half, Mosta found their feet. Fortune set up Babangida but his shot came off a defender.
With Mosta committing more men forward in search of an equaliser, Tarxien were finding more space on the counter.
They had a splendid opportunity to put the game to bed four minutes from time as Bonaque, who had a solid game in defence, made a surging run from the back before picking out the unmarked Darlington but the Nigerian striker’s ferocious drive was off target.
Tarxien Rainbows
S. Mintoff-7, K. Farrugia-6.5, M. Caruana-6, T. Caruana-6.5, F. Aboulezz-7 (80 N. Vella), E. Vallecillo-6, J. Pereira-6, I. Grech-6, A. Cini-7, O, Darlington-7 (90 S. Sadowski), M. Bonaque Acevedo-7.
Mosta
O. Borg-6, T. Farrugia-6, M. Brincat-5, R. Ekani-6.5, D. Falzon-6.5, O. Koli-6 (89 A. Borg), K. Magro-6.5, H. Babangida-6, I. Zammit (23 A. Darbo-5), J. Brincat-6 (81 K. Frendo), U. Fortune-4.
Referee: M. Kere (Latvia).
Yellow cards: Darlington; Farrugia; M. Brincat; Cini.
BOV player of the match: Obinna Darlington (Tarxien).
Attendance: 1,843.