TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1

BIRKIRKARA 3

Birkirkara maintained their six-point buffer over their arch-rivals Valletta ahead of this weekend's showdown after beating Tarxien 3-1.

The Stripes started brightly but their early efforts were easily dealth with by the Tarxien defence. It wasn't before the 20th minute that they fashioned a decent chance, Haruna heading wide from Edward Herrera's cross.

Six minutes later, Jhonnattann reached Haruna's delivery on the right flank. However, when he pulled the trigger in came Temile who erroneously blocked the way.

The Stripes were enjoying a greater share of possession but there was always the danger that they could be caught unawares by a Tarxien counter-attack. Jorge demostrated his penetrative qualities on 41 minutes when he sensed an opening in the Birkirkara defence before releasing Ronaille whose rising shot was repelled by Justin Haber.

As the Rainbows hit a purple patch, Birkirkara punished their flat-out approach with a devastating counter-attack. Tarxien defender Fernando Lopez Alcantara lost his balance when he was about to close down Paul Fenech's through pass with the consequence that the ball rolled in the Tarxien box. A burst of pace from Jhonnattann saw him through to reach Fenech's pass before slotting the ball behind the onrushing Nicky Vella, the Tarxien goalkeeper.

In the 71st minute, the impressive Haruna whose powerful running was a striking feature all evening, zipped open the Tarxien defence with a mazy run before arrowing shot into the far corner of the net.

Birkirkara were now in cruise mode. Ten minutes from time, Nikola Vukanac swivelled on the left flank before hitting a grounder on the turn which came off the foot of the post with Vella beaten.

Six minutes later, Temile went close to increasing the lead as he stretched his leg to reach Herrera's inswinger from the right wing but Vella leapt to his right to push the ball around the post.

Against the run of play, Jorge handed Tarxien a lifeline on 88 minutes when Hevia's intelligent pass opened up the Birkirkara defence as the ball rolled towards Jorge who drilled his shot past Haber.

Tarxien’s megre consolation didn’t last long as, moments later, Birkirkara regained their two-goal cushion. The goal came from an unlikely source as substitute Daniel Zerafa controlled the ball before hitting a firm low drive that had the better of the startled Vella.