Ħamrun Spartans 0
Tarxien Rainbows 4
Vella Critien 12; Bueno 29, 50; Buttigieg 77
Ħamrun Spartans's hopes of forcing their way back into the reckoning for a place in the Championship Pool are all but over after slumping to a crushing defeat to bottom-placed Tarxien Rainbows at their own home ground yesterday.
Daniel Mariano Bueno was the executioner of the Ħamrun demise as the South American forward struck two goals and set up another to help the Rainbows chalk up only their second win of the season. More importantly, victory lifted them closer to the other relegation strugglers.
In fact, Tarxien now trail third from bottom Ħamrun by three points and will certainly fancy their chances of avoiding the drop if they keep the good work going. The arrival of new Brazilian signings Everson Alan De Lima, a defender, and attacking midfielder Denni Rocha Dos Santos added stability to the team.
This setback has now doomed the Spartans to Relegation Pool football but of more concern for coach Steve D'Amato was the team's abject defending throughout the match. Considerable improvement is needed if Ħamrun are to start the second phase in a stronger position.
D'Amato was without Rupert Mangion, who failed to recover from illness, while Roderick Fenech returned from a one-match ban.
Tarxien were off to a flyer and after 12 minutes they surged ahead.
Warren Chircop sped on the left wing before delivering a low cross that was partially controlled by Bueno and in came Luke Vella Critien who rifled the ball home.
Four minutes later, Tarxien survived a scare when Sadowksi almost committed an own goal in an attempt to clear Steve Meilak's centre.
On 20 minutes, Cucciardi was through on goal but was stopped by Tarxien keeper Anthony Curmi, the ball fell to Stefan Sultana whose shot was turned towards goal by Sylvano Comvalius. However, the Dutchman was denied by the well-positioned Clifford Gatt Baldacchino who cleared the ball to safety.
Things took a turn to the worse for Ħamrun on 29 minutes when Roderick Fenech felled Bueno in the area and from the spot the Brazilian made no mistake to put the Rainbows firmly in command.
The woodwork denied the Spartans on 32 minutes when Comvalius unleashed a powerful drive that brushed against the bar before finishing out of play.
Seven minutes later it was the Rainbows who were a whisker away from a third goal. Chircop found himself clean through on goal and tried to lob over the onrushing Casha. However, the ball bounced off the bar.
On 44 minutes, Sultana was first on Cucciardi's corner but his header just missed the Rainbows' goal with Curmi beaten.
Comvalius should have re-opened the match soon after the restart when he was put through by Florin Anton but he fired out of range with only Curmi to beat.
However, any hopes the Spartans might have had to get back in contention were dashed on 50 minutes when Dos Santos slid the ball into the path of Bueno who fired a low shot that rolled under Casha and into the net.
Luck was surely not on the Spartans' side yesterday. They fought on bravely and on 52 minutes Gaetan Spiteri's volley seemed destined to reach the net but the ball hit the upright.
Things were looking desperate for the Spartans who were pushing more men forward, with the Rainbows always threatening on the break.
Comvalius chipped the ball into the path of Ryan Fenech who turned past his marker but his shot was dealt with by Curmi.
Tarxien sealed the points 13 minutes from time when Malcolm Buttigieg tucked the ball home from a rebound.
The Spartans were nowhere to be seen now and six minutes from time Bueno almost completed his hat-trick but this time the Rainbows forward was denied by Casha.
Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-4, D.A. Cucciardi-5, Z. Levniac-5, A. Attard-4, S. Comvalius-5.5, Rod. Fenech-4.5, S. Meilak-4 ('79 M.A. Bonnici), Ryan Fenech-6, S. Sultana-5, F. Anton-5.5, G.Spiteri-5.
Tarxien Rainbows
A. Curmi-6.5, S. Sadowski-6, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, R. Grech-6 ('86 M. Pisani), E. De Lima-6.5, W. Chircop-6.5 ('64 M. Buttigieg-6), M. Tanti-6, R. Schembri-6, D. Bueno-8, L. Vella Critien-7, D. Rocha Dos Santos-7.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Ryan Fenech, Rod. Fenech, Attard, Sadowski, Comvalius.
BoV Player of the match: Daniel Mariano Bueno (Tarxien Rainbows).