Naxxar Lions 0
Tarxien Rainbows 5
Joao Pedro 11; Omeruo 25; Caruana 44; Danilo 67; Montebello 90;
Tarxien Rainbows got back to winning ways when they cruised past Naxxar Lions in a one-sided encounter at the Hibs Stadium.
Jacques Scerri’s troops took their opponents by the scruff of the neck and never relinquished their hold on the proceedings.
The collective and incisive football came from Tarxien as Stefano Grima’s side, reduced to 10 men after 26 minutes, never gave an inkling that they could contain their opponents’ attacks.
With Manuel Caruana starting on the Tarxien substitutes’ bench it was Triston Caruana who was handed the captain’s armband on the day.
The Rainbows handed a start to Danilo, Ayrton Azzopardi and Brandon Muscat while Luke Montebello and Timothy Tabone Desira were included among the substitutes.
The Lions were without the injured Mattia del Negro and Moise Gnenegbe was given the nod to start in the heart of defence.
Naxxar started brightly and Sidoine Oussou saw his effort parried away by goalkeeper Andrea Cassar.
However, it was Tarxien who found the breakthrough.
Danilo was adjudged to have been illegally held outside the penalty area.
Joao Pedro stepped up for the kick and he hit a curling drive that flew past a stranded Julian Azzopardi in the Naxxar goal and into the back of the net.
Naxxar were taken aback and on 24 minutes, Lucky Omeruo set free on a vertical run, hit a low drive that had the better of Azzopardi to double Tarxien’s lead.
Two minutes later Naxxar’s hopes of a recovery dipped further when David Fenech was sent off for dissent.
The Rainbows were in complete control now and Caruana further rubberstamped their dominance when hitting his side’s third goal just before half-time.
Naxxar faced a make-or-break scenario after the interval and their coach Stefano Grima must have tried to lift the morale of his players in an effort to reopen the match.
But Tarxien’s superior briskness and more penetrative qualities were giving Naxxar a harrowing time.
Tarxien’s fourth goal arrived after 67 minutes. Substitute Roderick Bajada stole possession in midfield and he quickly provided a perfect service to Danilo who kept his nerves in check to hit past Azzopardi.
Three minutes from time, Omeruo headed onto the bar after receiving from Azzopardi.
But Tarxien were not finished yet and in stoppage time, Montebello, who had earlier replaced Joao Pedro, slipped in goal number five to cap a perfect day for the Rainbows.
Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-4, B. Rajovic-4, A. Scicluna-5, M. Gnenegbe-4 (58 J. Debono-4), S. Oussou-6, S. Hadzibulic-5 (46 R. Cardozo-4), I. Grech-5, D. Fenech, A. Buhagiar-5 (58 R. Cassar-4), E. Lattes-5.5, A. Tarlazis-6.
Tarxien Rainbows
A, Cassar-6, E. Baker-6, T. Caruana-6.5, B. Muscat-6, B. Oliveira-6, Danilo-6.5, A. Azzopardi-6.5, L. Omeruo-6, C. Hevia-5 (46 R. Bajada-6), A. Alves-5 (65 G. Gesualdi-5), Pedro-7 (68 L. Montebello-6).
Yellow cards: Fenech, Caruana, Rajovic, Muscat.
Red card: Fenech (N) 26.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
BOV player of the match: Joao Pedro (Tarxien Rainbows).