Tarxien Rainbows 1
Mayasi 12;
Mqabba 1
Muscat 45;
Tarxien Rainbows have had a troubled season so far as their lowly position in the table illustrates.
They have had to deal with injuries and suspensions to key players, new foreigners failing to live up to expectations as well as a failed dope test by one of their off-season signings.
A grim relegation scrap looms for the Rainbows but yesterday, their players summoned a spirited performance in their clash with Mqabba. To say that Tarxien were the better team would be misleading though, as the two sides gave as much as they got and the 1-1 stalemate offered a true reflection of a hard-fought encounter.
While Tarxien’s resilient showing will have given their fans renewed optimism, Mqabba justified their reputation as a hard-to-beat team with another battling display.
Tarxien were without Brazilian forwards Daniel Mariano Bueno, injured, and Ricardo Costa, suspended. Justin Grioli was making his return from injury.
Mqabba coach Clive Mizzi refused to gamble with the fitness of strikers Bojan Mamic (hamstring) and Thiago Mazzitelli (calf), naming both among his substitutes.
The enthusiastic Mqabba fans unfurled banners and released red balloons into the air as the two teams marched onto the pitch.
After three minutes, Grioli got on the end of a left-wing cross but his header was blocked by keeper Kris Calleja.
Mizzi opted for 4-4-2 with John Paul Muscat flanking John Nwoba in attack. A novelty in Tarxien’s tactical module was the deployment of Orosco Anonam behind lone striker Jimmy Mayasi and that of Carlo Mamo in midfield as coach Patrick Curmi favoured a 4-4-1-1 approach.
The early danger for Mqabba stemmed from the left wing, precisely from the feet of Adrian Carabott.
Mamo had a long-range drive saved by Calleja but Tarxien’s brisker start yielded an opener on 12 minutes. Anonam was the provider when threading a throughball to Mayasi who slipped his marker and hammered past Calleja.
At the other end, Everton did well to dash backward and clear the ball away from the advancing Nwoba.
Mqabba were finding it difficult to create clearcut openings as the Tarxien players pressed hard when chasing possession.
After Mayasi’s opener, scoring opportunities proved elusive.
On the stroke of half-time, David Cassar, the Tarxien goalkeeper, stopped Muscat’s long-range effort but moments later, Mizzi’s men levelled. Muscat’s inswinger from a corner drifted into the box and, with Cassar thrown off balance by a posse of players who darted towards goal, the ball sailed into the far corner of the net.
Mqabba came close to moving ahead three minutes into the second half when Muscat delivered a perfect ball for Bonnici whose header cannoned off the bar.
Referee Marco Borg was faced with a difficult decision 10 minutes into the second half after Mqabba defender Branislav Timotic appeared to hurl his body in the way of the steaming Mayasi who had been sent clear by Anonam.
The Tarxien fans called for a red card but the referee deemed that the Serb’s foul had not denied the Rainbows a clear scoring opportunity. Borg cautioned Timotic and awarded Mqabba a free-kick.
Curmi made a tactical adjustment in the second half, switching Carabott to a central attacking role as Anonam moved into midfield.
With 18 minutes remaining, Carabott made way for Mark Tanti who was making his comeback after a long lay-off.
Tanti’s first contribution was to whip in a cross from a corner but Everton’s header was deflected wide.
Mazzitelli’s inclusion was aimed at injecting flair into Mqabba’s build-up play but the game remained finely-poised.
Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-6, S. Sadowski-6, C. Mamo-6, M. Caruana-6, Everton-6.5, A. Carabott-6.5 (72 M. Tanti), J. Mayasi-7, O. Anonam-7, R. Mintoff-6, L. Galea-6, J. Grioli-6 (90 W. Zerafa).
Mqabba
K. Calleja-6, C. Micallef-5.5 (78 T. Mazzitelli), M. Bonnici-6.5, C. Calleja-5.5 (68 R. Sammut-5.5), B. Timotic-6, J.P. Muscat-7 (82 M. Briffa), M. Potezica-6.5, D. Azzopardi-5.5, P. Grima-5.5, J. Nwoba-5, J. Briffa-6.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Nwoba; Timotic; Sadowski.
BOV player of the match: John Paul Muscat (Mqabba).