Tarxien Rainbows 4
Costa 45 pen, 73; Vella Critien 63; Bueno 81;
Vittoriosa Stars 2
Edison 26 pen; Jorge 90 pen;
This quarter-final was a tale of four penalties, two apiece for Tarxien Rainbows and Vittoriosa Stars.
When Daniel Mariano Bueno failed to put away his penalty four minutes from half-time, Tarxien will probably have feared the worst as by that time, Vittoriosa had emerged from a poor start to open the scoring from the spot.
To their credit, the Rainbows regrouped to turn the tables on Vittoriosa Stars who, for the umpteenth time this season, only shone in flashes and were ultimately undone by a failure to maintain their tactical shape and concentration.
Both teams came into this duel firmly intent on giving it their best shot. Vittoriosa were keen on extending their run in the KO to soften the heartache caused by their impending relegation from the Premier League while Tarxien are determined to reach the final to strengthen their chances of gaining a Europa League berth.
Yet again, Tarxien’s Brazilian imports were central to their success as Ricardo Costa struck a brace and Bueno atoned for his penalty miss with a late goal that sealed his side’s passage to the semi-finals.
Jean Vella was called into action inside the opening two minutes as the young Vittoriosa goalkeeper fisted away Justin Grioli’s free-kick from an angled position.
Tarxien forced the pace in the early stages.
Bueno evaded the challenge of Vella as he burst into the Vittoriosa box but his cross rolled across the six-yard box before Dino Cachia cleared the danger.
A heavy downpour temporarily slowed Tarxien’s momentum but they remained the most dangerous side.
The Rainbows should have scored when Ricardo Costa flicked a fine pass to Bueno whose diagonal grounder rolled against the base of the far post.
Vittoriosa’s first significant raid almost yielded a breakthrough midway into the first half.
Lee Galea looked to be ahead of Carlos Campagnoli as the two chased possession but the Brazilian outmuscled the Tarxien defender and headed for the box. Campagnoli’s strike was kept out by David Cassar and Karl Sammut skewed his shot over the bar from the rebound.
This chance sparked Vittoriosa into action. Jorge’s drive was deflected past the near post. The ensuing corner caused confusion inside the box before Tarxien scrambled the ball away.
Jorge’s delivery from the corner sailed towards the centre but referee Marco Borg blew his whistle and pointed to the spot after ruling that Orosco Anonam had pushed Edison in the box. Edison’s spot-kick flew past the diving Cassar.
Tarxien tried to bounce back. Ricardo had a central effort blocked but at the other end, Edison squandered an inviting chance when he only got a slight touch to Campagnoli’s through-ball.
Six minutes from half-time, it was Tarxien’s turn to be awarded a penalty after Jeffrey Chetcuti, under pressure from Bueno, was adjudged to have stopped Grioli’s cross with his arm. Bueno assumed responsibility for the penalty but his tame shot was touched away by Vella.
Unperturbed by Bueno’s penalty miss, Tarxien kept pressing for an equaliser. They went close when Anonam’s header from a corner cannoned off the bar and Bueno’s follow-up was blocked by Ryan Grech.
Vittoriosa let out a sigh of relief but their reprieve was temporary. Galea’s surge into the box was halted by the sliding Chetcuti, prompting Borg to order a penalty, the third in the game, for Tarxien.
This time, Costa despatched his shot past Vella to level matters.
Both coaches effected a substitution at half-time.
Vittoriosa’s Winston Muscat withdrew Chetcuti and brought on Leighton Grech, a move that saw Campagnoli repositioned at centre-half. For Tarxien, Anonam made way for Ryan Mintoff.
The second half was only eight minutes old when Edison ran menacingly at the Tarxien defenders through the middle before mustering a shot that glanced off the outstretched arm of Everton.
At first glance, the Tarxien defender looked to have been inside the box when he blocked Edison’s drive but the referee signalled that the infringement had occurred inside the D.
Campagnoli’s free-kick whistled past the near post.
Vittoriosa were on the backfoot when Bueno made headway on the left and swung his cross into the six-yard box where Cristiano was unchallenged but he sent his flick wide.
This turned out to be the preamble to Tarxien’s goal.
Cristiano produced a firm drive that was partially repelled by Vella but Luke Vella Critien was on hand to poke the ball home.
The driving rain was making life difficult for both teams.
With 20 minutes remaining, Vittoriosa almost made it 2-2 when Campagnoli flicked Leighton Grech’s corner towards the far post but Edison hit wide. The latter also went close with a header that dropped inches wide but Tarxien closed out the game with a third goal 17 minutes from time.
Gianluca Calabretta was the provider as his free-kick soared towards Costa who headed home.
Vittoriosa looked down and out but Grech came close to dropping the Stars a lifeline. The Malta U-21 winger darted past Grioli but his rising effort from underneath the crossbar whizzed across the face of goal.
Tarxien dished out instant punishment on their opponents as Everton’s measured cross from the right was turned in by Bueno who scored with a fine finish.
Cassar prevented Vittoriosa from narrowing the deficit with a fine diving save to palm away Ryan Grech’s thunderbolt.
This came three minutes from time but shortly afterwards, Vittoriosa were awarded another penalty after Grioli shoved Edison in the box. Jorge made no mistake from the spot.
As Vittoriosa mounted a late rally, Tarxien were reduced to 10 men when Everton received a second caution for kicking the ball away to waste time.
Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar, M. Caruana (83 S. Sadowski), Everton, G. Calabretta (90 A. Farrugia), Ricardo Costa, Cristiano, D.M. Bueno, L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam (46 R. Mintoff), L. Galea, J. Grioli.
Vittoriosa Stars
J. Vella, D. Cachia, J. Chetcuti (46 L. Grech), J. Camilleri (72 A. Tabone), S. Wellman, Jorge, K. Sammut (86 L. Lagana), C. Campagnoli, Luis Edison, M. Maccari, R. Grech.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Missed penalty: Bueno (T) 41.
Yellow cards: Sammut; Chetcuti; Everton; Wellman; Grech; Grioli.
Red card: Everton (T) 90.
Semi-finalists
Birkirkara
Floriana
Tarxien Rainbows
Valletta