Tarxien Rainbows 1
Vallecillo 90;
Naxxar Lions 0

Edu Vallecillo was the toast of Tarxien yesterday as the Spanish striker scored a stoppage-time winner to earn his team a priceless victory over Naxxar Lions.

It was a dramatic outcome to a match which saw both teams giving everything they had in a bid to take the three points.

Naxxar enjoyed more possession in the opening half but Tarxien came back strongly after the break to secure a thrilling victory that lifted them off the bottom of the standings.

Senegalese striker Demba Toure replaced Jorge in the only change for Naxxar Lions from their last-gasp defeat against Valletta.

Clive Mizzi, the Tarxien coach was unable to count on the unfit Jorge Yepes. Defender Ishmael Grech stepped in but his inclusion was not the only change in the Rainbows’ initial XI as Manuel Acevedo, returning from a two match-ban, was preferred to Firas Aboulezz.

It took Frank Temile less than six minutes to make an impact. A cute interchange between Toure and Temile opened the Tarxien defence before the Nigerian outpaced Grech as he dashed into the box but his shot came off the post.

The Rainbows were a shambolic lot in these early stages and three minutes later, they almost conceded. Temile volleyed the ball goalwards but was denied by Sean Mintoff.

Jesmond Zerafa was forced to make a change on 26 minutes as goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi limped off the pitch and was replaced by Luke Pecorella.

Past the half hour mark, Gilmar’s delivery from a corner was met by Ibok Edet but his angled header finished just wide.

Tarxien, at last, mustered a reaction. Triston Caruana teed up the overlapping Jose Pereira whose swerving shot was brilliantly saved by Pecorella.

Five minutes from the break, Vallecillo embarked on a brilliant run only to miscue his shot over the bar.

At the other end, Gilmar’s corner was met by Toure but his shot was stopped by Mintoff.

There was little in the way of scoring chances in the opening exchanges of the second period but after 70 minutes, Tarxien had a good chance when Pereira a supplied perfect cross towards Obinna Darlington but his effort finished wide.

Moments later, Tarxien custodian Mintoff was stretchered off and was replaced by Antonio Chetcuti.

Another passage of scrappy football ensued but seven minutes from time Pereira veered infield before executing a rising shot which smacked against the crossbar.

In stoppage time, Manuel Caruana tried to surprise Pecorella but he missed the target by a whisker.

At the other end, Edet ran clear but was denied by a fine block from Kane Farrugia who threw himself on the ball to hook it off the line.

But it was Tarxien who had the final say when Pereira’s free-kick found the unmarked Vallecillo who ably headed past Pecorella to the delight of his team’s fans.

Tarxien Rainbows
S. Mintoff-6 (77 A. Chetcuti), K. Farrugia-6.5, M. Caruana-6, T. Caruana-6, E. Vallecillo-7.5, J. Pereira-7, I. Grech-5, A. Cini-6, M. Tabone-6 (61 F. Aboulezz-5), O. Darlington-5 (90 N. Vella), M. Acevedo-5.5.

Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi (26 L. Pecorella-6), A. Scicluna-6, I. Edet-6.5, T. Vella-5 (77 D. Falzon), F. Temile-5.5 (67 Jorge-5), Gilmar-6, A. Buhagiar-5.5, D. Fenech-6, D. Toure-5, R.G. Cassar-5.5, A. Bruce-6.

Referee: Marco Avoni (San Marino).

Yellow cards: Fenech, T. Caruana, Vallecillo, Pereira.

BOV Player of the match: Gilmar (Naxxar Lions).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hibs	29	25	4	0	90	19	49
Valletta	29	20	2	7	67	23	40
Birkirkara	29	18	6	5	55	27	39
Balzan	29	14	8	7	40	42	33
Floriana	29	11	10	8	48	44	29
Sliema	29	9	8	12	38	45	22
Mosta	29	9	5	15	33	61	20
Naxxar	29	7	8	14	33	43	18
Qormi	29	5	9	15	30	48	15
Tarxien	29	5	9	15	28	54	14
Pietà H.	29	5	7	17	25	52	12
Żebbuġ	29	5	6	18	34	73	12