Rainbows return to winning ways

Tarxien R. vs Dingli S. 2-1

Tarxien Rainbows returned to winning ways as they defeated Dingli Swallows 2-1. The Rainbows move seventh, two points ahead of Hamrun.

Anderson Mendes Ribeiro and Stacey Vella were missing for Tarxien as they were serving a one-match ban. Dingli, on the other hand, lacked Dylan Zarb but Andre Rocha Da Silva was back in the starting line-up.

Tarxien were clearly a better side during the first half. On 13 minutes, a freekick from the left by Denni Rocha Dos Santos was saved by Dingli goalie Jeffrey Farrugia. Then Denni entered the area on 19 minutes, trying to round the goalkeeper but his attempt was blocked by a defender. A minute later a low shot by Mark Tanti ended just wide.

The Rainbows took the lead on 26 minutes when there was a short clearance following a corner by David Camilleri and Mark Tanti controlled before hitting past Jeffrey Farrugia.

On 35 minutes, following a good run on the left, Joseph Okonkwo served Kurt Formosa whose low shot ended just wide. Tarxien however went close once again two minutes later with a Denni Rocha Dos Santos effort who intercepted a pass by defender but his fine curved shot hit the foot of the post. Three minutes from the end of the first half, David Camilleri sent Denni through, rounded two defenders but his goal-bound shot was blocked into a corner by Shawn Tellus.

The Rainbows doubled the score two minutes in added time thanks to a rather dubious penalty. Referee Kevin Azzopardi ordered a penalty following a tackle by Shawn Tellus on Gianluca Calabretta and from the penalty spot, Denni Rocha Dos Santos made no mistake.

Six minutes in the second half, Dingli reduced the gap when off a cross by Kurt Formosa from the left, the ball was deflected by a defender with the ball reaching Joseph Okonkwo who found no difficulty in slotting past Curmi from close range.

On 64 minutes, a freekick by Renato Conceicao for Dingli scraped past the post and three minutes later, on the other side of the pitch, Gianluca Calabretta gained possession just outside the area, serving Kurt Magro whose powerful shot was neutralised by Farrugia.

Anthony Curmi performed a good save on a shot from the right by substitute Etienne Farrugia on 71 minutes. On the other hand, a long distance freekick by Everton Antonio Pereira hit the upright for Tarxien on the 83rd.

Five minutes from time, Dingli were reduced to ten men as Dino Cachia was sent off for a rough tackle on Calabretta.

A freekick David Camilleri from the right ended just wide on 87 minutes and finally just before the 90th, Denni went close with another freekick which ended high.

TARXIEN Anthony Curmi, Steve Sadowski, David Camilleri, Everton Antonio Pereira, Mark Tanti, Andrew Decesare (83′ James Shead), Luke Vella Critien, Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Lee Galea, Kurt Magro (74′ Manuel Caruana).
Subs not used: David Cassar, Warren Zerafa, Mario Bajada, Ryan Mintoff.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit

DINGLI Jeffrey Farrugia, Renato Garcia Conceicao, Shawn Tellus, Haruna Doda (74′ Clint Caruana), Kurt Formosa, Christian Muscat (46′ Etienne Farrugia), Dino Cachia, Kevin Borg, Matthew Borg (46′ Victor Fiteni), Andre Rocha Da Silva, Joseph Okonkwo.
Subs not used: Ivan Cassar, Roderick Briffa, Victor Fiteni, Christopher Azzopardi, Dylan Zarb.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Alan Camilleri
Fourth Official: Andre Arciola
Yellow Cards: D. Camilleri, Decesare, Calabretta, Conceicao
Red Cards: 85′ Dino Cachia
BOV Player of the Match: Denni Rocha Dos Santos
Scorers: 26′ Mark Tanti (T)
45′ Denni Rocha Dos Santos (T)
51′ Joseph Okonkwo (D)