Tarxien back on top with crushing win

Tarxien Rainbows 4
Marsa 0

Tarxien Rainbows reclaimed top spot in the Division One table after brushing aside bottom team Marsa.

Noel Coleiro's side dominated from start to finish and could have scored more goals had they been more clinical in front of goal.

The Rainbows were unlucky when, after only three minutes, John Paul Muscat hit the side-netting following a solo run. Tarxien kept up the tempo and on 29 minutes, Angus Buhagiar had a close-range effort kept out by Marsa goalkeeper Roderick Spiteri.

Six minutes from the break, Malcolm Buttigieg's long-range drive finished just over for Tarxien.

Marsa's resistance was finally broken a minute into the second half, Andrew Decesare slotting the ball home from close range following a Muscat corner.

It was all Tarxien now and on 59 minutes, Buhagiar's fierce drive sailed just wide. This was the prelude to Tarxien's second goal which arrived on 61 minutes. Matthew Borg, who replaced Simon Shead, slotted the ball into an empty net after Spiteri misjudged Buhagiar's cross.

On 67 minutes, the Marsa goalkeeper made up for his error when he blocked two attempts by Borg.

Tarxien spurned another glorious opportunity when Omar Grech fired over from close range following a good move by Decesare.

The Rainbows made it 3-0 on 80 minutes when Buhagiar left everyone in his wake before hammering a diagonal shot past Spiteri.

Tarxien maintained their pressure and eight minutes from time, the Marsa custodian did well to keep out Borg's drive. From the rebound, Grech headed just wide.

The score became 4-0 on 85 minutes when Borg coolly fired the ball home from a Buhagiar cross.

Tarxien: S. Cini, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana (L. Vella Critien), M. Buttigieg, G. Bencini, E. Mbong, S. Shead (M. Borg), A. Buhagiar, A. Decesare, J.P. Muscat (O. Grech), R. Schembri.

Marsa: R. Spiteri, J. Rizzo (B. Zammit), S. Cutajar, D. Vella (J. Borg), J.P. Zammit, K. Cassar, J. Camilleri, J. Achokwu, K. Xerri, W. Chircop, C. Guzman (J. Martin).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Angus Buhagiar (Tarxien).

Mosta 2
Vittoriosa Stars 1

Mosta climbed back into second place after a controversial late penalty gave them a 2-1 win over Vittoriosa at the Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

The Cottonera outfit looked well on course to take the three points from the match as they were leading 1-0 with only stoppage time left to play.

However, their hopes were dashed when, two minutes into injury time, Carlos Camenzuli headed home Mosta's equaliser. More misery was in store for Vittoriosa as Cedric Sciberras was deemed to have handled in the box when trying to control the ball, a harsh decision perhaps. Matthew Borg converted from the spot.

Two minutes into the game, Mosta's Massimo Grima traded the ball with Ndayi Kalenga but the former's volley ended wide.

Mosta continued to play the better football and on 12 minutes, Kalenga shot wide after being set up by Grima.

Vittoriosa gradually began to share the exchanges and on 27 minutes, Anthony Eviparker's acrobatic shot was blocked by Jonathan Debono.

The final stages of the first half belonged to Vittoriosa and it came as no surprise when they took the lead.

Charlie Cachia's long-range drive was tipped away for a corner by Debono. From the resultant corner, Eviparker's back-heeled flick rolled over the line after skimming the post.

At the start of the second half, Mosta went all out for an equaliser but Massimo Cremona's side defended well. Vittoriosa had an Eviparker goal disallowed as the Nigerian was ruled to have been in an offside position.

Mosta went close to an equaliser on 75 minutes. Kalenga's pace was too much for Vittoriosa and his cross was met by Chris Pace who headed wide.

Eviparker should have sealed the issue for the Stars two minutes from time but he was thwarted by Debono.

Then in stoppage time, the unexpected happened as Camenzuli headed home Christian Sant's cross. Two minutes later, Sciberras's intervention led referee Chris Lautier to point to the penalty spot and Borg completed the turnaround for Mosta who stay one point behind leaders Tarxien.

Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, S. Borg, M. Brincat, R. Deguara (C. Pace), M. Farrugia, A. Saliba (C. Sant), P. Vassallo (C. Camenzuli), E. Vella, M. Grima, N. Kalenga.

Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, J. Camilleri, C. Sciberras, I. Zammit, A. Eviparker, K. Darmanin (E. Bugeja), C. Cachia, L. Lagana (H. Hughes), S. Calleja (S. Privitelli), D. Gauci, J. Spiteri.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Man of the match: Anthony Eviparker (Vittoriosa).