TARXIEN RAINBOWS-1 VITTORIOSA STARS-0
A late strike by Brazilian Ricardo Costa gave Tarxien Rainbows their first victory of the season at the expense of Vittoriosa Stars who are still without a point after three games.
Scoring opportunities were few and far between in a disappointing first half. Vittoriosa could have seized the lead inside the first minute when Nigerians striker Anthony Ewurum teed up Brazilian Edizon but the latter fired wide.
On 11 minutes, Tarxien’s Brazilian forwards Ricardo Costa and Cristiano combined to create an opening for Mark Tanti who shot high and wide.
Gianluca Calabretta was inches wide with a diagonal effort.
Both teams were finding it hard to produce clearcut chances but Vittoriosa’s first fluid move should have yielded a goal on 25 minutes.
Running on to Ewurum’s pass, Jorge Santos Silva dribbled his way into the box from the right and squared to Edison but the latter squandered the opportunity as his weak attempt was easily blocked by Tarxien captain Steve Sadowski.
Close to the half-hour mark, it was Tarxien who threatened to nose ahead.
Calabretta engineered the move with a strong run and a cross towards the far post where Grioli’s first-time shot was blocked but the ball flew towards Ricardo Costa. The Brazilian headed goalwards but Simon Agius, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper, palmed the ball over the bar.
Five minutes from half-time, Grioli played in a teasing cross from the right and into the goalmouth. Cristiano tried to connect with Grioli’s service but he was closed down by Agius as the ball rolled across the face of goal before Vittoriosa’s Jonathan Xerri cleared.
The Rainbows should have gone ahead 10 minutes into the second half when Ricardo Costa reacted quickest to Calabretta’s corner but the Brazilian hit wide from a favourable position.
Midway into the second half, Santos Silva’s scorcher was off target and, at the other end, Tarxien’s Calabretta produced a diagonal effort that Agius, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper, pushed onto the crossbar.
Tarxien’s optimism grew when they awarded a penalty after Ewurum felled Ricardo Costa in the box but Cristiano’s drive from the spot was beaten away by Agius.
Orosco Anonam then produced a header that Agius saved with relative ease and Cristiano prodded wide from a good position.
With five minutes remaining, Tarxien took a deserved lead thanks to Ricardo Costa whose diagonal shot had the better of Agius.
Deep into stoppage time, Vittoriosa almost made it 1-1 when substitute Mauro Brincat swung in a fine cross from a free-kick and Ricardo Costa almost headed the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear. Luckily for Tarxien, the ball hit the post.