Vittoriosa Stars twice came from behind to earn a pulsating draw with Tarxien Rainbows in a tale of two halves.
Miguel Ciantar going close with a curling effort that flew inches wide of the upright just shy the half hour. Few moments later, Luca Martinelli’s venomous, swerving effort just outside the box was tipped over the bar by the Vittoriosa custodian. It looked only a matter of when not if Tarxien would break the deadlock and they did not have to wait long.
After 39 minutes, Everton embarked on a surging run on the left before arrowing a perfect cross that was met by Ronallie whose fine header had the better of Vella.
Out-fought and outclassed in the first half, Vittoriosa must have been relieved to hear the half-time whistle. Yet the Stars equalised with the first real goal-scoring opporunity after 55 minutes, when Gilbert Martin hit a wonderful first-time volley from the edge of the box.
Martin’s goal jolted Tarxien’s momentum as Vittoriosa brought to their game with some much-needed urgency. The improved movement of Oscar Guerrero and Marcelo Pereira was central to the Star’s revival. In the 63rd minute, Martin advanced through the middle pulled the ball back for Guerrero but the latter’s central drive was repelled by Vella.
Yet Tarxien offered more going forward and Everton’s astute running help the Rainbows to make inroads into the Vittoriosa rearguard. In the 69th minute, an exquisite one-two between Everton and Jorge unlocked the defence as Everton’s through-ball released Jorge who rounded the goalkeeper and deposited the ball into the net.
Eight minutes later, Tarxien looked to have tightened their grip on the game when Vittoriosa were reduced to 10 men as Jose Felipe Aguiar received the marching orders for a second bookable offence. But shy the 80th minute, the pendulum swayed once more in favour of Vittoriosa when the Stars equalised again with a flowing the three-man move. Pereira chested down a long ball by Teruel as Guerrero finished calmly to level matters once more.
Vittoriosa’s later barrage failed to yield the winner as they were still dangerous in the stoppage time but Pereira blasted wide.