Sergio Pacheco chose an extraordinary way to announce himself to Maltese football.

One of four Brazilian signings for Tarxien Rainbows in summer, Sergio only flickered sporadically in his first outings in the Premier League but he hogged the limelight big time last weekend.

Having fired Tarxien ahead in the first half of their clash with Floriana, Sergio conjured up a moment of brilliance to double his side’s lead early in the second half.

Cristiano initiated the move with a good run before serving Sergio. After trading passes with fellow countryman Ricardo Costa, Sergio accelerated into the box and feigned to shoot with his right only to perform a stepover before finishing with his left.

His exquisite goal had the spectators at the Tedesco Stadium purring, instantly raising Sergio’s stock in the Premier League.

Sergio’s impact and the positive contributions of his close friend Cristiano and also Ricardo Costa gave Tarxien and coach Noel Coleiro a timely tonic in light of the scepticism that greeted the Brazilian trio’s early showings.

“I’m very happy at Tarxien Rainbows,” Sergio told The Times with the help of his personal translator, team-mate Cristiano who has a good command of English.

His close relationship with Cristiano, stemming from the time they spent together with Dutch clubs NAC Breda and Roda, was the key factor behind Sergio’s decision to sign for Tarxien.

“I joined Tarxien because I wanted to play alongside Cristiano,” Sergio said. “We know each other very well as we spent 10 years together in Holland.”

Sergio and Cristiano may have both been unknown quantities for Maltese football when they signed for Tarxien but a closer inspection of their CVs would reveal the reasons why the Rainbows decided to go for these players.

The duo, born within four days of each other, spent their childhood in Rio de Janeiro but they left their home country as teenagers to join NAC Breda in the Netherlands. The ‘inseparable pair’ signed for Roda JC in 2002 and stayed with the club for four years before their careers headed in different directions.

Cristiano joined Swiss side Basel while Sergio secured a lucrative move to Ukrainian club Metalurg Donetsk. After one season with Metalurg, Sergio teamed up with Sivasspor in Turkey and then had a short spell back in Brazil before coming to Malta.

Although Sergio has played in stronger leagues than the Maltese Premiership, he has been suitably impressed with the standard of our top-flight championship.

“I think the level of the Maltese league is good,” Sergio said.

“The increase in the number of foreign players has made the clubs stronger.”

Sergio feels that he and the other new Brazilian signings at Tarxien will prosper as the league progresses.

“We only joined Tarxien in summer and new players need time to settle in,” Sergio observed.

“It also takes time to adapt to a new league but we’re all getting better. We’re also getting used to our team-mates and this is helping us a lot.”

Those who witnessed the sublime movement of Sergio in the game against Floriana will probably think that they have already seen the best of him but the Brazilian is adamant that he can do even better.

“I was satisfied with my performance against Floriana but I believe that wasn’t my best,” Sergio said.

“That said, people have to understand that it’s unrealistic to expect top performances from players in every game.”

Sergio may have been the darling of Tarxien fans after his brace against Floriana but one couldn’t help but wonder what the reaction of his coach and team-mates would have been had his audacious move for the second goal backfired.

“When I received the pass, I had already made up my mind on what I intended to do,” Sergio reflected.

“I had no second thoughts, I was only focusing on rolling the ball past the goalkeeper.”

It was a rare gem but not the first for Sergio.

“Yes, it was a great but I scored some other superb goals for Roda,” he said.

Victory over Floriana put Tarxien’s top-six bid back on track and strengthened Sergio’s confidence that they can challenge for higher targets.

“We have a very good squad,” Sergio said.

“There are several talented players at Tarxien and I believe we can challenge for the top positions. However, we have to take it game by game.”

Cristiano is aware that Tarxien must make sure of their place in the Championship Pool before they can set their sights on higher targets.

“It (the Premier League format) is something new for us... it’s certainly different to what we were used to,” Cristiano pointed out.

Both Sergio and Cristiano left their home in Brazil at a tender age to pursue their dream abroad. Now, they are adapting to life in Malta after living in different countries.

“The style here is different to Brazil but I’m settling well,” Sergio said, adding that he can’t wait for his family to join him.

For Cristiano, the cultural change could hardly have been more contrasting as he had a two-year stint with Adelaide United ‘Down Under’ before moving to Malta.

“I came from Australia and there is certainly a big difference between the two countries,” Cristiano said.

“But I’m really enjoying my time here.”

Results from Day Seven of the BOV Premier League favoured Valletta who opened a five-point lead at the top of the standings.

With the championship stopping for almost two weeks to make way for the national team’s away match to Croatia in the European Championship qualifier, the Citizens are now guaranteed that they will be retaining their leadership even though they will not be in action when competition resumes on the weekend of November 20 and 21.

Birkirkara again fired blanks after struggling to earn a draw against Vittoriosa Stars. The latter extended their unbeaten run to three matches and were a whisker away from surprising the champions who only drew level in stoppage time, Nikola Vucanc cancelling Jorge Santos Silva’s opener for the Premier League newcomers.

The Stripes have now fallen eight points behind Valletta who downed a battling Sliema Wanderers team 4-0 at the Tedesco Stadium on Friday.

Denni opened the score and Terrence Scerri made it 2-0 from a dubious penalty. The Wanderers threw in the towel and Valletta rounded up the scoreline with two late goals from Agius duo, Gilbert and Edmond.

Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana had both started Day Seven joint second, four points behind Valletta.

Both pursuers failed to maintain the pace though, the Spartans going down to Marsaxlokk and Floriana beaten by Tarxien Rainbows.

Marsaxlokk, for whom Alfred Effiong scored twice in the southerners’ 2-1 comeback win, are now second in the standings on 12 points. Gaetan Spiteri had given the Spartans an early lead.

The protagonist in Tarxien’s 2-0 win was none other than Brazilian Sergio Pacheco who showed amazing nerves of steel when flicking in his team’s second goal, a true piece of artistry from the South American talent box.

The programme was completed in Corradino on Monday, a drab stalemate between Qormi and the misfiring Hibernians who are languising perilously at the wrong end of the standings.

Premier League statistics

Scorers

Birkirkara: Vella 3, Galea 3 (1 pen); Lattes 2, Cilia 2; Fenech, Vukanac.
Floriana: Mecerod 2; Dzhorov, Darmanin, Caruana, Woods pen.
Ħamrun Spartans: Pereira 4; Shields 3; Grima 2, Anizoba 2, Spiteri 2; Mangion.
Red cards: Hrubsa (vs Floriana), Bonnici (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: McManus 4; Cohen 3 (1 pen); Caruana, Clarke, Herrera, Farrugia.
Red card: Pulis (vs Ħamrun).
Marsaxlokk: Effiong 7; Temple-man, Alcorse pen, Kokavessis.
Red card: Alcorse (vs Valletta).
Qormi: Mallia 3; Bjedov, J. Farrugia, Frendo, Bello Osagie.
Sliema Wanderers: Mifsud Trig-anza 3; Obiefule 2; Lima.
Red cards: Mintoff (vs Birkirkara); B. Muscat (vs Vittoriosa).
Tarxien Rainbows: Ricardo Costa 3; Cristiano 2 (1 pen), Bueno 2, Sergio 2.
Valletta: Scerri 6 (2 pens); Sammut 4; Falzon 2, Pace 2, Denni 2 (1 pen); Zammit, G. Agius, E. Agius.
Vittoriosa Stars: Ewurum 3; Santos Silva. Own goal: Gauci (vs Hiber-nians).
Red cards: Campagnoli (vs Valletta); Carabay (vs Birkirkara).

Next fixtures

Saturday, Nov. 20: (Tedesco Stadium) 2 p.m. Vittoriosa Stars vs Marsaxlokk; 4.15 p.m. Qormi vs Birkirkara.
Sunday, Nov. 21: (Hibs Stadium) 2 p.m. Sliema vs Floriana; 4 p.m. Tar-xien Rainbows vs Hibernians.