PEMBROKE ATHLETA 1 (Laudisi); TARXIEN RAINBOWS 2 (Montebello, Zerafa)

A late blitz from substitutes Luke Montebello and Daniel Zerafa grabbed the three points for Tarxien.

Tarxien looked to be heading for a defeat as they trailed to a 13-minute goal from Ariel Laudisi.

After a fractious start to the contest, in which Paltemio Barbetti’s volley in the third minute was well blocked by Tarxien goalkeeper Andrea Cassar, Pembroke looked far more willing to attack. But none really created any danger until the 13th minute when Kyle O’Brien bore down on goal but the Pembroke defence blocked his effort, only for Ariel Laudisi to steal in and lob the ball over the goalkeeper.

The Tarxien defence was exactly on the rack as few moments later Ebiabowei Baker passed the ball to the goalkeeper, who let the ball slip under his legs, the ball rolled a foot or more over the line before Cassar recovered to clear the ball but the match officials allowed play to continue.

Baker looked vulnerable again shy the half hour mark, when the goalkeeper under pressure had to handle a back pass from his defender but the referee did not signal this infringement and again waved play on.

Just before half-time, Danilo hit a low drive just off the near post as his effort finally triggered an initially static Tarxien, who had struggled with their passing and running off the ball into life.

Soon after the break, Joao Pedro’s curling effort was pushed around the post by the Pembroke goalkeeper. Shy the hour mark, Ayrton Azzopardi looked to be through but a superbly-timed Barbetti challenge forced the ball away.

The former Pembroke coach Jacques Scerri threw on first Luke Montebello and then Luke Montebello to try and grab at least a point.

Pembroke were quick to surge on the counter with Austin Martz running the length of the pitch on the left flank before squaring for Siraj Arab but his effort was easily saved by Cassar.

The Athleta were left to rue that miss as within two minutes the Rainbows were level. Montebello was play in by a ball from Lucky Omeruo and the striker finished with an exquisite low shot behind Matthew Farrugia from the tightest of angles.

And Tarxien sensed an unexpected and there was time for Gustavo Villalobos to squander a golden opportunity before the killer blow 14 minutes from time.

The Pembroke defence was guilty of failing to picking up Pedro’s corner and in came substitute Zerafa whose backheader flew over Farrugia and into the net.