Tarxien Rainbows 3
Bueno 1, 2; Ricardo 90;
Ħamrun Spartans 1
Grima 58;
Daniel Mariano Bueno took just 82 seconds to decide the outcome of this match when he struck twice to help Tarxien strengthen their hold on second place in the standings, a position Noel Coleiro’s men are showing it comes without any sense of vertigo.
The Rainbows faded badly after the brightest of starts but the Spartans, who threatened a comeback, were simply left to reflect on a season of ups and downs after failing yet another test to show they have the quality to restore the club to its former standing.
Coleiro made three changes to the side that stunned Marsaxlokk with Bueno drafted in the starting XI while Justin Grioli, back after serving suspension, and Ryan Mintoff replacing Steve Sadowski and Orosco Anonam, the latter out with a one-match ban.
Ħamrun coach Steve D’Amato decided to stick with the 4-5-1, which although at times was hard to watch, saw Ħamrun picking up valuable points lately.
The Spartans restored central defensive duo Martin Hrubsa and Roderick Fenech to their starting-line up, with Steve Bonnici pushing Mark Anthony Bonnici out at right back.
D’Amato had forged an enterprising side, built on solid defensive foundations. But there was no case for the defence yesterday as these changes simply let Tarxien torment their rearguard at will.
The game had barely started when Bueno scored one of the quickest Premier League goals after 23 seconds. The Rainbows attacked straight from the kick-off and the Brazilian, totally unmarked after bursting through from midfield, slotted home from Luke Vella Critien’s through pass.
Bueno’s goal set the tone for the match as the Brazilian ran with far greater confidence than any of his markers from the first whistle and Omar Borg’s goal was breached again 82 seconds later.
The modus operandi was always the same as Vella Critien found Bueno unmarked just outside the box before the striker drilled the ball low past Borg.
Buoyed by their two-goal salvo, Tarxien unwisely opted to sit back and absorb pressure from their shell-shocked opponents.
The Spartans started to push forward in a bid to get back into contention and David Camilleri almost scored directly from the corner only to see David Cassar clear the danger after 12 minutes.
Few moments later, Massimo Grima got in front of Everton Pereira and did superbly to reach Marcelo Pereira’s cross with a glancing header but he steered the ball just wide.
In the 24th minute, Grima forced a save from Cassar as he ran across the Tarxien defence to latch on to Pereira’s cross before heading goalwards from a tight angle.
Shortly before half-time, Ryan Fenech’s free-kick created a goalmouth melee but the Rainbows eventually cleared their lines.
Tarxien still created openings in the Ħamrun rearguard and Mark Tanti blasted just wide five minutes into the second half.
Considering the circumstances, that could have made for a comfortable last half hour for Tarxien but to their credit Ħamrun kept fighting.
On 52 minutes, Bonnici’s cross was headed by Grima into the path of Gaetan Spiteri but the nippy striker failed to connect with the ball.
However, the Spartans were rewarded six minutes later when Grima cleverly headed home from Bonnici’s cross.
What followed was a remarkable 30-minute spell, which saw Bonnici wasting a glorious chance to equalise when he blazed over the bar and the Rainbows spurn a handful of opportunities to put the game to bed.
In the 65th minute, Borg turned away a point-blank stinging volley from Bueno
Two minutes from time, Grima rattled the woodwork with a fine shot but his effort came back off the post and nobody could force the loose ball home as Ħamrun continued to battle on but their efforts proved to be in vain.
In time added on it was Tarxien who struck again when substitute Ricardo ghosted past the Ħamrun defence to bury the ball home from a Sergio free-kick.
Tarxien
D. Cassar-6, M. Caruana-5.5 (80 Sadowski), E. Pereira-6, Cristiano-6.5, Sergio-6, M. Tanti-5.5 (62 S. Hili), D. Bueno-7 (66 Ricardo-6), L. Vella Critien-8, R. Mintoff-6, L. Galea-6, J, Grioli-6.
Ħamrun
O. Borg-6, M. Grima-7, Roderick Fenech-5, Ryan Fenech-6, M. Pereira-6.5, G. Spiteri-5, J. Vukanic-5, M. Hrubsa-5, D. Camilleri-6, S. Bonnici-7, P. Anizoba-6.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Bueno, Grioli, Caruana, Roderick Fenech, Anizoba, Ryan Fenech.
BOV player of the match: Luke Vella Critien (Tarxien Rainbows).