Vital wins for Tarxien and Marsa

Marsa 1
Mqabba 0

Tarxien Rainbows moved to safer waters in the standings following this merited win over promotion-seekers Naxxar Lions.

Naxxar Lions 1
Tarxien Rainbows 2

Last season's Division Two champions had Maczerob Okoro in fine form. The Nigerian striker created most of the problems to the Naxxar rearguard when he was in possession.

Naxxar retained their runners-up spot in the standings behind St Patrick despite this upset at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday. They rarely threatened the Tarxien goal and it was only in the last 15 minutes that they pushed forward with purpose.

Massimo Cremona's team could also have scored more than one goal in the late stages of the match only for Chima Dozie to miss a couple of clear chances. However, that would have been sheer injustice on Tarxien as Naxxar were practically non-existent in the first hour of the game.

Tarxien took the initiative from the very first minute and could have easily scored early on when defender Massimo Schembri dribbled his way inside the Lions box before firing a scorcher which after taking a deflection was cleared in time by Roderick Spiteri.

George Cutajar went close for Tarxien but Joe Galea's team did break the deadlock after 23 minutes when Okoro hit the back of the Lions' net with a superb first-time effort.

Naxxar never reacted. It was only near the end of the first half, after more Tarxien pressure, that they ventured forward for the first time. Goalkeeper Maurizio Vallastro, however, was quick to block on Dozie.

Tarxien increased their lead on 56 minutes. Okoro did well to release Simon Shead who was quick enough to outpace his markers before shooting the ball beyond Psaila's reach.

Shead then blasted wide from a good position and so did Dozie at the other end after Vallastro had partially parried a header from the same Naxxar striker.

The Lions came into life near the end of the match. Vallastro was alert to keep his net intact but deep into stoppage time he was beaten from a penalty, awarded for a foul on Dozie in the box. The latter scored from the spot but it was too late for his team to save the match.

Naxxar: P. Psaila, D. Gera, G. Mock, J. Sant Fournier, R. Schembri, P. Sixsmith, R. Spiteri, I. Zammit (M. Gatt), S. Muscat (P. Fenech), C. Dozie, I. Zammit (C. Mifsud).

Tarxien: M. Vallastro, G. Cutajar, M. Farrugia, E. Saliba, M. Schembri, M. Caruana, G. Mallia, S. Shead, A. Guazzo (B. Testaferrata), J. Agius (A. Bonello, E. Farrugia), M. Okoro.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Tarxien's victory in the previous match forced Marsa to go all out for the points to improve their ailing position in the standings and keep in touch with nearest rivals San Gwann. Ilir Pelinku's team did rise to the occasion to claim the three points at stake at the expense of Mqabba who also needed a win to maintain their promotion charge.

Despite playing without the suspended Gilbert Martin, Marsa had a reliable deputy in Ibrahim Tarik. But it was not Tarik's performance only that inspired Marsa as all players contributed to the cause.

Mqabba, yesterday, were a shadow of the team that had played so well in the previous 11 outings. They lacked concentration and even wasted a penalty two minutes from time.

The match was balanced at first even though Mqabba should have opened the score when Chibueze crossed to Jean Paul Muscat who hit wide from a very good scoring position.

Marsa had their chances as well, Tarik hitting badly in front of goal and Ryan Bonnici's header going a whisker wide from a free-kick. This was perhaps Marsa's best moment in the match and soon they were in front.

On 21 minutes, Grima crossed from the right and Tarik was on the right spot to stab home from close in.

Muscat almost drew the teams level soon after but Cordina saved his fort with a fine save.

Marsa could have added a second just before the break when Mqabba keeper Calleja failed to hold from a corner but Bonnici's header was stopped by the upright.

Despite their lead, Marsa did not lie down in the second half and continued to attack to score again. However, for all their possession and fine play they hardly ever threatened Calleja's goal.

As the minutes started ticking away, Mqabba doubled up their efforts to save the match. Muscat looked odds on to equalise from an ideal position but in flashed Alan Mifsud who effected a timely block. Cordina again did well from the ensuing corner to save on Martin Borg.

In the 88th minute, Mqabba had a golden opportunity to draw level when the referee awarded them a penalty after Keith Mallia went tumbling down in the Marsa box.

However, Chibueze, an expert in dead-ball situations, this time lost composure and shot straight at Cordina. Marsa lived to fight another day.

Marsa: J. Cordina, N. Zarb Cousin, J. Buttigieg, R. Bonnici, A. Mifsud, L. Grima, M. Corbolan, K. Farrugia (D. Vella), D. Gatt (R. Mallia), I. Tarik (R. Micallef), S. Eboh.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, R. Farrugia, M. Catania (M. Briffa), A. Busuttil, E. Lufi, M.A. Psaila, J.P. Muscat (K. Mallia), E. Gauci, M. Borg, I. Chibueze, C. Calleja (A. Formosa).

Referee: Lorry Sammut.