Pembroke Athleta needed a Siraj Arab goal to have the better of nine-man Tarxien 1-0 at the Tedesco Stadium.

The Rainbows made all the early running and on 15 minutes Luke Montebello pounced on a poor back pass from Owen Bugeja to storm into the area but the towering striker took too much time to conclude and was dispossessed by the backtracking Bugeja.

Four minutes later Ayrton Azzopardi served Triston Caruana on the edge of the area but his firm drive came off the post.

Tarxien’s best chance came on 22 minutes when Miguel Attard was harshly adjudged to have fouled Alex Alves in the area but from the resultant penalty Joao Pedro’s low drive was well saved by Mario Muscat, the Pembroke goalkeeper.
Pembroke gradually came more into the picture and on the stroke of half-time they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Paltemio Barbetti’s inswinger came off the upright.

On the restart, Pembroke looked to have come more into the picture and on 58 minutes they were regaled with an opener.

Laudisi stole possession from Timothy Tabone Desira and sprinted towards the Tarxien goal but his shot was repelled by the onrushing Andrea Cassar. Siraj Arab was first to the rebound and drilled the ball into an empty net.

Pembroke almost struck again on 65 minutes when Cassar palmed Barbetti’s cross into the path of Gustavo Villalobos whose rising shot came off the bar before Tarxien cleared.

The Rainbows looked rattled and despite enjoying long spells of possession they failed to trouble Mustcat’s goal.

Tarxien’s cause further complicated eight minutes from time when Bruno was shown a red card after committing a second bookable offence and he was followed to an early shower but Hevia in stoppage time as the Spaniard was red carded for two bookings as Pembroke held comfortably for the win.

Pembroke goalkeeper Mario Muscat was voted as the BOV Player of the match.