Rainbows win pulsating match

Tarxien Rainbows 3
Mqabba 2

Tarxien Rainbows extended their rich vein of form yesterday, seeing off an Mqabba side hampered by the absence of striker Marlon Briffa and goalkeeper Kris Calleja.

In spite of Mqabba's notable absentees, credit should go to Tarxien for their lively performance, typified by strikers Maczerob Okoro and Simon Shead. The latter notched a hat-trick while Okoro's industry posed unending problems to the Mqabba defence.

For Mqabba, Jean Paul Muscat again stood out. His never-say-die attitude and will to drive his side forward even when things were not going well for them, made him an inspirational figure.

Mqabba's Ikechukwu Chibueze again proved that, together with Shead, he's the most in-form striker in Division One. His brace yesterday took his tally of goals to 14.

In the early stages of the game, both sides cancelled each other out in the middle of the field. It was Mqabba who forged ahead in the 18th minute when a Chibueze free-kick which looked easy prey for Tarxien goalkeeper Anthony Curmi finished at the back of the net.

Bolstered by their lead, Mqabba began to dominate the match and a Muscat cross from the right flank could have caused more damage had Chibueze arrived in the area a fraction of a second earlier.

On the half hour, Chibueze found Claudio Calleja unmarked in the area but Mqabba's young prodigy fired wide from a good position.

As time went by, Tarxien started to get their act together. In the 33rd minute, a Massimo Schembri corner was headed over by Okoro. The Rainbows equalised four minutes from half-time when, from a Schembri free-kick, Shead cleverly back-heeled the ball into the net.

Tarxien were the better side after the change of ends. Shead chipped just over the crossbar following a good move on 50 minutes.

Four minutes later Okoro dribbled his way past several Mqabba defenders, including the goalkeeper, but his final shot was deflected for a corner.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Tarxien claimed the lead for the first time when Aaron Guazzo's cross was headed home by Shead.

Mqabba's reply reaped instant rewards. Gordon Mallia floored Chibueze inside the box 17 minutes from time and the Nigerian quickly picked himself up to score from the spot. But three minutes later, Shead again finished off a magnificent Okoro move from the right flank to put Tarxien back in front.

To make matters worse for Mqabba, Mark Anthony Psaila was sent off 10 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

Okoro could have made the game safe for Tarxien when his fine run saw him coming face to face with Jonathan Debono but veteran defender Emmanuel Grech was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

A minute into injury time, Tarxien goalkeeper Curmi atoned for his earlier mistake when conceding the first goal, superbly saving a Muscat grounder from close range.

Tarxien: A. Curmi, M. Farrugia, E. Saliba (D. Baldacchino), M. Schembri, G. Mallia, A. Guazzo, S. Shead, C. Borg (S. Busuttil, A. Bonello) E. Farrugia, M. Okoro, B. Camilleri.

Mqabba: J. Debono, R. Farrugia, L. Grech, M.A. Psaila, M. Gauci, J.P. Muscat, E. Gauci (M. Camilleri), C. Calleja (E. Borg), M. Borg, I. Chibueze, K. Mallia.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.