TARXIEN RAINBOWS-4, VITTORIOSA STARS-2
Tarxien Rainbows became the third team to earn a berth in the semi-finals of the U*Bet FA Trophy after they beat Vittoriosa Stars 4-2 this afternoon.
This quarter-final saw referee Marco Borg award no fewer than four penalties, two to each team with Tarxien only converting one and Vittoriosa putting away their two spot-kicks.
Vittoriosa goalkeeper Jean Vella effected the first save of the game after just two minutes as he pushed away Justin Grioli’s swerving free-kick from an angled position.
Tarxien were the better side early on. Daniel Mariano Bueno swept past Vella as he ran into the Vittoriosa box but his low cross bobbled across the six-yard box before Dino Cachia cleared the danger.
The skies opened as the game moved past the 10th minute. Tarxien remained the more dangerous side. Ricardo Costa flicked supplied a fine pass to Bueno whose diagonal strike hit the base of the far post.
Vittoriosa’s first significant attack almost led to a breakthrough midway into the first half. Campagnoli dispossessed Lee Galea and advanced into the box before hitting an angled strike that was kept out by David Cassar. Karl Sammut blasted his shot over the bar from the rebound.
This chance bolstered Vittoriosa. Jorge’s drive was deflected past the near post. On 25 minutes, Vittoriosa were awarded a penalty by referee Marco Borg after Orosco Anonam was adjudged to have pushed Edison in the box during a corner action. Edison’s low strike flew past the diving Cassar.
Tarxine strove to stage an immediate reaction. The Vittoriosa defenders blocked a shot by Ricardo Costa from a corner action but at the other end, Edison fluffed a golden chance to double his side’s advantage when he failed to connect properly with Campagnoli’s excellent through-ball.
Six minutes from half-time Tarxien were given a penalty after Jeffrey Chetcuti, under pressure from Bueno, was deemed to have handled Grioli’s cross. Bueno stepped up for the penalty but Vella touched the Brazilian’s weak shot around his near post.
Bueno’s penalty miss failed to shake Tarxien. They kept pushing for an equaliser, going close through Anonam whose dipping header from Gianluca Calabretta’s corner came off the crossbar. Bueno’s follow-up attempt was kept out by Ryan Grech.
Tarxien were not to be denied though and on the stroke of half-time, they were awarded a second penalty for Chetcuti’s sliding tackle on Galea. Costa converted the penalty to put Tarxien back on level terms.
Eight minutes into the second half, Edison powered forward before firing a shot that cannoned off the outstretched arm of Everton. The Tarxien defender looked to have been inside the box but referee Borg awarded Vittoriosa a free-kick just outside the box. Campagnoli’s free-kick rolled past the near post.
Tarxien almost scored from their next attack but Cristiano flicked wide from Bueno’s perfect cross. The Blues went ahead for the first time in the match on 63 minutes, Luke Vella Critien hitting home from close range after Vella partially saved Cristiano’s drive.
The pressure was now on Vittoriosa to make a reaction. With 20 minutes remaining, they almost made it 2-2 when Campagnoli diverted Grech’s corner towards the far post but Edison sent the ball wide. The Brazilian also went close with a header that bounced inches wide but Tarxien closed out the game with a third goal 17 minutes from time.
Calabretta’s well-hit free-kick was met by Costa who headed past Vella.
Vittoriosa were now up against it but Leighton Grech came close to reviving their hopes but his close-range effort flew across the face of goal.
Tarxien went 4-1 up nine minutes from time, Bueno volleying the ball home after receiving a cross from Everton.
Cassar denied Vittoriosa a second goal as he beat away Grech’s screamer. Vittoriosa were awarded another penalty in the dying moments after Grioli pushed Edison inside the box. Jorge made no mistake from the spot.
Tarxien finished the game with 10 men after Everton collected a second yellow card for time-wasting.