Tarxien hold Valletta in 1-1 draw

Leaders Valletta could not earn nothing more that a point as they were held in a 1-1 draw by Tarxien Rainbows at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. A draw which allows the Citizens, who now lie four points ahead of Hibernians, to extend their positive run to seven matches after claiming maximum points from their last six matches.

For Tarxien, this was yet another prestigious result which enables them to join Floriana on the 32-points mark, although the Greens have a game in hand.

Valletta lacked Ian Azzopardi, Claudio Pani and Llywelyn Cremona but Ryan Camilleri was back after serving a one-match ban. The Rainbows, on the other hand, welcomed back Bruno Giglio de Oliveira.

Tarxien managed to take the lead on the 18th minute thanks to Alex da Paixao Alves who concluded a solo effort with a shot from the right which beat goalkeeper Nicky Vella.

The Citizens however levelled matter on the 36th as Fedrico Falcone anticipated goalkeeper Andrea Cassar with a header off a cross from the left by Uchenna Umeh.

VALLETTA Nicky Vella, Jonathan Caruana, Diego Douglas Balbinot (76′ Jean Borg), Ryan Camilleri, Juan Cruz Gill, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Uchenna Calistus Umeh (77′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, Abdelkarim Nafti (87′ Jurgen Suda), Romeu Pericles Romao.
Subs not used: Henry Bonello, Daniel Camilleri, Russell Fenech, Nicholas Pulis.
Coach: Paul Zammit

TARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Timothy Tabone Desira, Triston Caruana, Luke Montebello, Ayrton Azzopardi, Carlos Menendez Hevia, Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos (78′ Lucky Omeruo).
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Manuel Caruana, Brandon Muscat, Roderick Bajada, Gaetano Joseph Gesualdi, Darren Sciberras.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Chris Francalanza
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Hevia, Umeh, Zerafa, J. Caruana, Falcone, Briffa, Balbinot, Baker
Scorers: 18′ Alex da Paixao Alves, 36′ Federico Falcone
BOV Player of the Match: Alex da Paixao Alves
Attendance: 752