TARXIEN RAINBOWS    5

Faria 35, 87

Wellington 41, 45

Tounkara 49 pen.

NAXXAR LIONS             2

Scicluna 37og.

Baker 47og.

Tarxien Rainbows boosted their chances of survival when they brushed aside relegation rivals Naxxar Lions 5-2.

After a balanced opening, it was Tarxien who took the lead on 35 minutes. Wellington picked the unmarked Ricardo Faria in who beat goalkeeper Christoph Nicht with a firm drive.

The Lions soon hit back and they drew level two minutes later.

Daniel Bustos ran into the area to connect to Mohammed Belhadj’s throughball and the Argentine’s low shot had the better of the onrushing Andrea Cassar with defender Andre Scicluna inadvertenly pushing the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear.

Tarxien soon recovered from this setback and they restored their lead on 41 minutes. Luke Grech’s dipping pass was misjudged by Naxxar defender Rafael and Wellington was on hand to fire the ball home.

The Brazilian struck again in stoppage time when in a quick raid he chested down Gabriel Aquilina’s pass and his diagonal effort had the better of Nicht.

The Lions tried to hit back on the restart and they struck inside the first two minutes when Belhadj’s inswinger was headed by Ebiabowei Baker into his own net.

However, Tarxien soon restored their two goal lead when three minutes later Faria’s shot hit Angus Buhagiar’s arm inside the area and Tounkara kept his cool to hit the ball into the net.

Faria sealed Tarxien's win with a fifth goal three minutes from time when he was put clear by the impressive Gabriel Aquilina to stab the ball past Nicht.

BOV Player of the match Ricardo Faria (Tarxien Rainbows).