ĦAMRUN 2

TARXIEN 3

Philip Chircop’s last-gasp own goal handed Tarxien Rainbows a dramatic 3-2 win over Ħamrun Spartans. Chircop attempting to keep the ball out on the goal-line went from hero to villain as he turned Daniel Ponce de Leon’s effort into his own net.

Inside the first ten minutes, Mark Anthony Borg who was marshalling the defence, suffered a knock and required some lengthy treatment off the field. Ħamrun had little time to re-group as it was precisely at this point with Borg still on the sidelines that Tarxien broke the deadlock. Ponce de Leon lofted a cross deep inside the penalty area. Alex Alves was the first player to make contact with the ball and squared it for Julian Galea, who slid in to prod the ball home.

The manner and timing of Tarxien’s opener stunned Ħamrun who took a while to find their feet. They fashioned their first chance after 25 minutes, when a sustained Spartans foray caused discomfort in the Tarxien box but a goal-bound effort from Massimiliano Giusti was warded off by the defence.

Sultana was forced to make his first substitution as Borg did not fully recover from that injury and was substituted by Glenn Azzopardi.

With only one goal in it, the issue was not yet resolved. This fact was underlined as Spartans opened the second half in a more adventurous vein.

Inside the opening two minutes of the second half, Giusti, a veritable thorn in the heart of the Tarxien’s rearguard, charged through the defence before producing a low shot that was well saved by Andrea Cassar.

Shortly before the hour mark, Ħamrun drew level. A fine move by Jake Grech released his brother on the left flank. His menacing cross was pushed over the line by the stretched Giusti. There was still plenty of vigour in the Ħamrun side and their supporters’ vocal acknowledgement epitomised this as their team gained the lead on 62 minutes. They won a free-kick on the left flank a few metres outside the area. From the ensuing dead ball, Giusti hit

There was still plenty of vigour in the Ħamrun side and their supporters’ vocal acknowledgement epitomised this as their team gained the lead on 62 minutes. They won a free-kick on the left flank a few metres outside the area. From the ensuing dead ball, Giusti hit low drive which was smothered away by Cassar but the opportunistic Italian midfielder stabbed in the loose ball.

However, there was more to come, a 25-metre free-kick by Alves found Matthew Tabone inside the box who leapt above Maldini to firmly head in the Brazilian’s cross.

Deep into stoppage time, Ponce de Leon sent a swerving ball into the area and in the thick of a goalmouth scramble, Philip Chircop got the decisive touch, nudging the Spaniard’s flick past Tabone and into his own net.