Mosta 2 Tarxien Rainbows 4
Tarxien returned to winning ways after a barren run of two consecutive defeats and a goalless draw to overcome Mosta 4-2. Clive Mizzi’s troops overcame the setback of conceding an early goal as they hit and never looked back.
Tarxien enjoyed more possession intially but it was Mosta who stormed ahead after 19 minutes when Steven Bonnici sent Mano Micallef crashing to the ground in Mosta’s first venture towards the Rainbows penalty area. And the former Lazio midfielder Fabio Vignaroli produced a delightful right-foot strike that bent away from Nicky Vella’s despairing dive.
It took going behind for Tarxien to wake up and, as often had been the case this season, Daniel Mariano Bueno proved to be their spark.
In the 24th minute, Andrew Agius zipped open the defence as he deposited the ball towards the unmarked Bueno lost his composure when he found himself face to face with Attard. But moments later, the Brazilian turned provider to set up Mark Tanti who drilled his shot past Attard and into the low corner to equalise.
On the stroke of half-time, the Rainbows seized the lead. Attard repelled successive attempts by Andrezinho but Fernando Apap miscued his clearance attempt as Bueno pounced on to the loose ball to head home.
After 50 minutes, Andrezinho directed a cross towards the near post, Agius’s leap to have unsighted the Mosta goalkeeper who only managed to push the ball with his foot but Mamo on the edge of the box, smacked a shot beyond Attard and into the net after the ball ricocheted off both posts.
Mosta were unable to stem Tarxien’s tide and after 63 minutes, Agius initiated again the move in midfield, squaring the ball to the advancing Gianluca Calabretta before whipping in a teasing shot that Attard only managed to palm away in the path of Bueno to reach Michael Mifsud at the top of the premier league’s scoring charts with 18 goals.
Now three goals to the good, Tarxien took their foot off the pedal and Mosta narrowed the gap seven minutes past the hour. Exploiting acres of open space in midfield, Vignaroli intelligently released Mitev who turned well before beating Vella.