Marsaxlokk 2
Kokavessis 39; Pereira 90
Tarxien Rainbows 1
Bueno 88

Marcelo Pereira's last-gasp strike kept alive Marsaxlokk's flickering hopes of clinching a place in the Championship Pool as the southerners edged past Tarxien yesterday.

The Brazilian was Marsaxlokk's hero and saviour, scoring the crucial winner in the dying moments, just a few minutes after Daniel Mariano Bueno had headed home Tarxien's equaliser.

Two wins from their next two matches would bring Championship Pool football to Marsaxlokk, provided Msida fail to gain a point from their remaining two second round fixtures. Patrick Curmi's men can also force a decider for a top-six berth if they win their remaining two matches and Floriana and Sliema lose their next two games.

Curmi was forced to make do without three players for this delicate match as goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin is still nursing a finger injury, Malcolm Licari was serving a one-match suspension and Claude Mattocks is out for eight months because of a doping ban.

The Rainbows were again without their injured Brazilian midfielder Denni Dos Santos while Lino Galea was absent from the 18-man squad.

Like Mattocks, Tarxien's Ryan Grech is also ineligible to play after CAS increased his doping ban from nine months to one year.

Before kick-off, a minute's silence was observed in memory of former MFA youth coach Mario Borg who passed away last week.

It was the Rainbows who almost broke the stalemate after only four minutes when Bueno breezed past two defenders before squaring to Mark Tanti who shot just wide.

On eight minutes, the woodwork saved Marsaxlokk as Warren Chircop's curling drive hit the upright with Reuben Debono beaten.

After this early flurry, scoring chances proved hard to come by.

We had to wait until the 30th minute for the next noteworthy opportunity. Bueno was first to Tanti's cross from a corner but he headed over.

Six minutes from half-time it was Marsaxlokk who went ahead with their first attempt at goal.

Pereira did all the spadework as he sped past two defenders before sending a teasing cross towards the unmarked Dylan Kokavessis who fired a low shot past Anthony Curmi.

Marsaxlokk could have comp-licated matters for the Rainbows four minutes later when Clifford Gatt Baldacchino floored Pereira in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Christian Cassar stepped up for the spotkick but his low shot rolled wide.

After the interval, Tarxien's Andrew Decesare made way for the more defensive-minded Manuel Caruana.

Noel Coleiro's men stepped up a gear after the break. After just four minutes, Ramon Schembri's grounder was pushed away for a corner by Debono.

On 58 minutes, Bueno almost punished Marsaxlokk for some sloppy defending, the Brazilian being a whisker away from anticipating keeper Debono who came out to field Chircop's cross.

At the other end, Cassar tried his luck from the distance but his long-range shot flew just over.

Seventeen minutes from time, Curmi brought on striker Julio Alcorse for Cassar.

On 79 minutes, Kokavessis initiated a quick break and then picked the sprinting Pereira whose fierce drive flashed just wide.

Just when it seemed that Marsaxlokk had done enough to preserve their 1-0 lead, Tarxien shocked them when levelling matters with only two minutes left for normal time.

David Camilleri curled in a dangerous cross from a free-kick and Bueno rose above his marker to send a dipping header into the net.

However, more drama was in store in stoppage time as Alcorse crossed the ball towards the unmarked Pereira who ably tapped the ball past the diving Curmi to the delight of the Marsaxlokk clan.

Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6, C. Mamo-6, G. Sciberras-6.5, R. Conceicao-6, B. Said-5.5, K. Sammut-6 ('90 W. Camenzuli), P. Pullicino-6.5, D. Kokavessis-6.5 ('81 C. Camilleri), T. Templeman-6, M. Pereira-7.5, C. Cassar-6.5 ('73 J. Alcorse).

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Curmi-5, S. Sadowski-5.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, D. Camilleri-6, E. De Lima-6, W. Chircop-6.5, M. Tanti-5.5 ('67 K. Borg-5), A. Decesare-5.5 ('46 M. Caruana-6), R. Schembri-6, D. Bueno-6.5, L. Vella Critien-6 ('81 J. Shead).

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Yellow cards: Gatt Baldacchino; Mamo; Schembri; Sammut.

Missed penalty: Cassar (M) 44.

BoV player of the match: Marcelo Pereira (Marsaxlokk).