Birkirkara 2
Muscat 4; Avila 64;
Tarxien Rainbows 3
Galvao 31, 67; Pereira 55 og;
Patrick Curmi must have relished the satisfaction of a victory against Birkirkara, the club that sacked him only a few weeks ago.
Prior to this match, Curmi stressed that he was not looking for revenge as he prepared Tarxien Rainbows, his new team, for their first clash with the Stripes this season but he will have been delighted with the way the Blues chalked up three priceless points to improve their precarious position in the table.
Rodrigo Andreis Galvao was in mesmerising form, teaming up with fellow Brazilian Caio Garcia Suguino as the Rainbows turned on the style to see off the misfiring Stripes.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit made only one change from the team he fielded in the 3-0 win over Floriana, Andrew Decesare stepping into the boots of the suspended Angus Buhagiar. Shawn Bajada was on the bench after a long absence.
Karl Sammut provided the one change to Tarxien’s starting-line-up as he replaced Steve Sadowski.
In the early stages, Galvao presented Karl Pulo with what looked like a certain goal only for the winger to fire wide. Galvao then found Suguino unmarked at the far post but the striker could not keep his effort down.
Tarxien paid the price for their wastefulness when Birkirkara took the lead with their first meaningful attack on four minutes.
Joseph Zerafa started the move with some fancy footwork with Rowen Muscat hitting home a Terence Vella cross into the bottom corner of the net.
Tarxien were not discouraged by this setback. After 17 minutes, Justin Grioli’s shot deflected invitingly into the path of Galvao but, after wrong-footing Rodrigo Pereira, he was thwarted by Jorge Mora’s block.
Tarxien possessed genuine menace in attack and carved through Birkirkara with ease to restore parity on the half-hour mark. Galvao controlled the ball well on his chest and scored with a superbly-struck half-volley that flew past Mora.
The Brazilian then embarked on a mazy run down the left, dancing past three defenders only to hook the ball wide.
Tarxien maintained their momentum after the break. Pulo was a constant threat with his direct running and flashed a ball across the face of goal that found no takers.
The Rainbows continued to look dangerous, although Curmi’s side would not have expected to be handed the lead by their opponents after 55 minutes.
Suguino’s corner seemed to be within Mora’s reach but the ball spun off his gloves and hit Pereira who turned it into his own net.
If Tarxien hoped this blow would rock Birkirkara, they were mistaken as Paul Fenech’s shot was diverted into the path of Moises Avila Perez who planted the ball into the net.
Paul Zammit’s side were now pressing for the winner. Trevor Cilia twisted and turned to leave goalkeeper David Cassar in his wake but his shot was cleared off the line by Stefan Giglio.
As the Stripes’ fans sensed another goal, they were stunned on 67 minutes when Suguino was afforded too much space on the left and when the ponderous Dragan Perisic missed his cross, Galvao headed past Mora.
It went downhill from here for Zammit’s side as Birkirkara conceded too much territory to their opponents.
Galvao went close to making it a hat-trick but he was undone by the post after 72 minutes.
Daniel Mariano Bueno should have made the game safe for the Rainbows six minutes from time when Tarxien were awarded a penalty after Mora was ruled to have pushed Galvao in the box.
The Spaniard redeemed himself as he saved Bueno’s spot-kick.
Tarxien, however, limited Bir-kirkara to one clear chance after that when substitute Shola Shodija’s shot was saved by Cassar.
Birkirkara
J. Mora-4, R. Muscat-6, D. Perisic-5, R. Pereira-5 (80 S.H. Shodija), J. Zerafa-6, G. Sciberras-6, P. Fenech-5, M. Avila Perez-6, A. Decesare-4.5 (70 L. Grech-4), T. Vella-7, T. Cilia-6.5.
Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-6, K. Sammut-6.5, Everton-6.5, M. Caruana-6, S. Giglio-7, K. Pulo-6.5 (69 J. Vella-6), O. Anonam-6, C. Garcia Suguino-7.5 (90 A. Carabott), R.A. Galvao-8 (86 L. Galea), D.M. Bueno-5, J. Grioli-6.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Suguino; Shodija; Mora; Vella.
Missed penalty: Bueno (T) 84.
BOV player of the match: Rodrigo Galvao (Tarxien).
Attendance: 1,492.