Tarxien Rainbows 0
Msida St Joseph 2
Camilleri 21; Calcado 75
Rocked by the sudden departure of coach Patrick Curmi, Msida were perceived as a team in crisis going into this clash with relegation strugglers Tarxien Rainbows.
Those who wrote off Msida's chances of grinding out a positive result yesterday didn't reckon with the fighting spirit and the collective talents of their players who reacted to adversity with a sound performance and a deserved 2-0 win.
All their players contributed to a potentially crucial victory in their quest for Championship Pool football but the man-of-the-match title was rightly bestowed on their goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri whose flawless display kept Tarxien at bay in delicate moments of the match.
Needing a win to move off bottom place, the Rainbows can't be accused of lacking commitment but poor defending, Camilleri's saves and Daniel Mariano Bueno's second-half withdrawal due to injury, wrecked their chances.
Msida's stand-in coach Joe Abdilla had to make do without Marcos Aurelio, injured, while Stacey Vella was suspended.
Noel Coleiro, the coach of Tarxien, settled on a 4-4-2 formation with Bueno flanked by Warren Chircop in attack. Msida's tactical approach was similar, Kurt Magro partnering Pedro Calcado.
Tarxien fashioned their first scoring chance after 10 minutes.
Lino Galea burst through from the left before squaring to Bueno whose low drive took a deflection and sailed dangerously towards the bottom left-hand corner. Camilleri turned the ball around his near post.
Msida's riposte was immediate. Adrian Farrugia surged clear but his diagonal effort was touched away for a corner by Anthony Curmi. From the flag-kick, Calcado curled a cross-shot towards goal but the ball cannoned off the bar.
The first roar of joy emanated from the Msida fans after 21 minutes. Latching on to a lofted pass from Andre Rocha da Silva, Chris Camilleri advanced before drawing his right foot to unleash an exquisite volley that gave Curmi no chance.
Eleven minutes from half-time, Tarxien would have restored equilibrium but for another save from Camilleri who parried substitute Omar Grech's drive from close in.
Grech then attempted an audacious shot from near the centre-circle, forcing Camilleri to scamper back towards goal. Luckily for Msida, the ball finished just wide.
The second half had an explosive start with both sides coming close to scoring.
Curmi did well to intercept Rocha Da Silva's run into the area but the keeper's intervention was eclipsed by Camilleri who produced another top-drawer save to push Grech's volley over the bar.
Calcado then swerved the ball towards goal from a free-kick but Curmi was equal to the task. The Brazilian should have done better when freed by Magro but he took one touch too many and Steve Sadowski dispossessed him.
The game continued to ebb and flow, Camilleri again denying Omar Grech after Bueno had headed Cariaga's cross in his path.
Tarxien were now pushing forward en masse but in so doing they left themselves vulnerable to quick breakaways.
Curmi twice kept the Rainbows in the game with fine saves from Adrian Farrugia who capitalised on acres of uncovered space in the Tarxien defence.
Midway through the second half, anxiety gripped the Tarxien bench when Bueno suffered an injury and the team's medical staff deemed that he was unfit to continue.
With all three substitutions effected, Bueno reluctantly returned to the field of play before giving up a few minutes later.
Brilliant goalkeeping continued to illuminate this match, Curmi again foiling Msida with a gutsy save from Calcado's free-kick.
With 15 minutes to go, however, Curmi could do nothing to prevent Msida doubling their lead, Calcado heading Adrian Farrugia's corner into the net from close range.
Calcado then swapped passes with Magro and powered his way into the box but his effort was repelled by Curmi. In the dying stages, Da Silva steered his shot wide.
Tarxien Rainbows
A. Curmi-8, S. Sadowski-6, L. Galea-5, M. Caruana-5, I. Carapic-5, W. Chircop-5, M. Tanti ('26 O. Grech-6), R. Schembri-5 ('56 L. Vella Critien-5), D.M. Bueno-5.5, R.M. Cariaga-5, R. Grech-5.5 ('61 M. Buttigieg-5).
Msida St Joseph
M. Camilleri-9, S. Grima-6, A. Spiteri-6.5, A. Rocha Da Silva-6.5, T. Farrugia-7, K. Mifsud-6.5, D. Cachia-6.5, P. Calcado-6.5, K. Magro-6.5, C. Camilleri-6.5 ('80 M. Camilleri), A. Farrugia-7 ('88 E. Navarro).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Bueno; Calcado; Vella Critien.
BoV player of the match: Matthew Camilleri (Msida).