Brazilian Jackson Lima scored a late equaliser as Sliema Wanderers hit back from a goal down to hold Tarxien Rainbows to a one-all draw this evening.
The drawn outcome left things as they were as Tarxien stay third, two points behind Floriana, and Sliema remain seventh, three points behind Hamrun Spartans and Marsaxlokk.
The first half produced few scoring chances. Five minutes into the game, Sliema Wanderers’ Nigerian striker Obinna Obiefule charged forward on the left and passed to Brazilian Jackson Lima who fired wide.
Midway through the first half, Sliema protested for a penalty after Obiefule ended on the turf after being challenged by Justin Grioli but their claims were waved away by Esther Azzopardi.
Tarxien’s first notable chance came on 26 minutes when Grioli’s corner was met by Orosco Anonam whose header cannoned off the crossbar.
After a somewhat indifferent start, Tarxien improved their passing but they hardly troubled the Sliema defence.
Sliema remained dangerous on the counter. Eight minutes from half-time, Cassar, the Tarxien goalkeeper, denied Sliema an opener when pushing Obiefule’s pildedriver onto the crossbar.
Cassar again showed sound reflexes when, three minutes from half-time, he pushed Chakib Lachkhem’s close-range shot around his near post after the Tunisian had been sent clear by Mark Scerri in another fast Sliema breakaway.
Eight minutes into the second half, Sliema almost seized the lead when Clayton Failla profited from a moment of hesitancy in the Tarxien defence but his central shot was blocked by Lee Galea.
Tarxien’s Ricardo Costa headed wide from Grioli’s corner but the Rainbows opened the scoring on 69 minutes. Brazilian Cristiano, who had just replaced Sergio, left an instant imprint on the game as he ran into the area to head Grioli’s dipping cross past Viktor Szentpeteri.
The momentum was with the Rainbows now. Grioli set up Ricardo Costa but the latter’s drive was too central to unsettle Szentpeteri.
Boosted by the introduction of two attacking players in Miguel Ciantar and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Sliema poured forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages. They should have levelled when Ciantar picked out Lachkhem with a perfect cross but the latter headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
That looked that but Sliema had other ideas. On the stroke of time, Noel Turner, a late substitute, delivered a fine cross from a free-kick and Jackson Lima headed home from the centre of the box.
Tarxien’s Grioli was named BOV player of the match.