Mosta 0
Tarxien Rainbows 1
A goal by Simon Shead after six minutes has thrown the promotion race wide open as Tarxien Rainbows edged leaders Mosta 1-0 yesterday.
Mosta, who would have effectively secured promotion had they extended their six-match unbeaten run yesterday, are now only two points ahead of Tarxien and Qormi at the top of the Division One standings.
A tense match that lasted more than 97 minutes was marred by two late red cards, one for each side.
Tarxien opened the scoring after only six minutes. Angus Buhagiar's excellent cross from the right invited Simon Shead to force his way through the Mosta defence and slot the ball home.
In the 18th minute, Mosta were unlucky not to draw level when Elton Vella's drive from outside the area hit the upright. From the rebound, Carlos Camenzuli was also denied by the woodwork and then, Ndayi Kalenga, who was well-marked, missed the target from close range.
On the half hour, Kalenga ran past two defenders on the left but his cross was intercepted by Tarxien goalkeeper Sean Cini.
The Tarxien custodian had to be alert on 32 minutes when he cut out a Mario Abela cross. Three minutes later, Buhagiar's cross-shot from the left deceived Mosta goalkeeper Jonathan Debono but Shead failed to take advantage.
Five minutes before the break, Mosta defender Melvin Farrugia suffered an injury and was substituted by Ryan Deguara. This meant that Massimo Grima had to be switched to centre-back.
Mosta appealed for a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Vella passed to Camenzuli who appeared to have been tripped by Ramon Schembri, but referee Adrian Casha waved play on.
Mosta started the second half in attacking mode and on 48 minutes, a Grima free-kick was headed just over the crossbar by Camenzuli.
The game was paused for a couple of minutes in the latter stages as both teams grew increasingly nervous. Mosta coach Michael Molzahn was ordered off the bench by referee Casha after exchanging words with some Tarxien players.
Tarxien looked to have suffered a blow three minutes from time when Matthew Borg, who had just replaced Buhagiar, was sent off for dissent.
Deep into injury time, Mosta had Steve Borg receiving his marching orders for a second yellow card following a bad foul on midfielder Essien Mbong, who played a key role in Tarxien's win yesterday.
Mosta: J. Debono, M. Abela (C. Pace), S. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli, M. Farrugia (R. Deguara), A. Saliba, C. Sant (A. Borg), E. Vella, M. Grima, N. Kalenga.
Tarxien: S. Cini, S. Sadowski, M. Cutajar, M. Buttigieg (A. Mangion), O. Grech, E. Mbong, S. Shead (J.P. Muscat) A. Buhagiar (M. Borg), A. Decesare, R. Schembri, L. Vella Critien.
Referee: Adrian Casha.
Man of the match: Essien Mbong (Tarxien).