Tarxien Rainbows and Hamrun Spartans earned their first point in the BOV Premier League as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Tarxien had suffered defeats to Valletta and Floriana while Hamrun, who lost three points following a protest lodged by Balzan Youths, were beaten by Valletta in their last outing.
Making his debut for Tarxien was Karl Pulo who was included as a substitute in the second half. Lee James Agius was back for the Spartans after serving a one-match ban but he started the game on the bench.
Following a goalless first half, the match came to life after the break.
Tarxien forged hardly a minute in the second half thanks to a powerful drive by Ricardo Costa from the left which beat goalkeeper Omar Borg.
The Spartans however levelled matters on the hour when off a cross by Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, substitute Luis Fernando Silva managed to beat goalkeeper David Cassar, placing the ball at the back of the net.
On the 90th, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro could have secured victory for the Spartans but his powerful shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and in added time, a diagonal shot from the left by Daniel Mariano Bueno scraped past the post.
Rupert Mangion was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
TARXIEN David Cassar, Carl Sammut, Manuel Caruana, Everton Antonio Pereira, Adrian Carabott (46′ Karl Pulo), Ricardo Costa (79’ Roberto Fagundes Saraiva), Rodrigo Andreis Galvao (67′ Caio Garcia Suguino), Daniel Mariano Bueno, Orosco Anonam, Lee Galea, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Steve Sadowski, Stefan Giglio, Luke Vella Critien.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
HAMRUN Omar Borg, Gianluca Calabretta, Matthew Gauci, Nikica Gacesa, Roderick Fenech (21′ Luis Fernandez Silva), Rupert Mangion (90’ Lee James Agius), Massimo Grima, Carlo Polli, Kevin Sammut, Gaetan Spiteri (78’ David Camilleri), Anderson Mendes Ribeiro.
Subs not used: Andrea Cassar, Carlos Eduardo Toneto Porcari, Steve Bonnici, Glenn Azzopardi.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit
Assistant Coach: Vince Carbonaro
Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri
Fourth official: Chris Lautier
Yellow Cards: Spiteri, Calabretta, Everton, Cassar, Ribeiro
Scorers: 46’ Ricardo Costa, 60’ Luis Fernando Silva
Meanwhile Sliema Wanderers joined Hibernians in second place on seven points, two behind leaders Valletta, as they defeated Old Firm rivals Floriana 1-0.
Sliema therefore maintained an unbeaten record while Floriana suffered their first defeat after beating Mqabba and Tarxien in their first two matches.
The Wanderers welcomed back Alex Muscat following a long absence due to an injury and had Bulgarian defender Rumen Galabov making his debut. Floriana, on the other hand, lacked Christian Caruana and handed the debut to goalkeeper William Amamoo.
The two teams shared the exchanges during the first half Sliema were reduced to ten men on 37 minutes when midfielder Ryan Grech picked a second yellow card and was therefore given marching orders by referee Clayton Pisani.
However three minutes from the end of the first half, the Blues went close to taking the lead with a Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza effort from the edge of the area which was however turned into a corner by Amamoo.
Three minutes in the second half, substitute Joseph Okonkwo headed wide off a Christian Cassar freekick. Sliema replied with a Jorge Santos Silva effort which just missed the target on 54 minutes.
Goalkeeper William Amamoo was also sent off on 66 minutes after handling the ball outside the area in an attack for Sliema. Goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo replaced Boris Odwong.
The Wanderers managed to break the deadlock on 74 minutes when a shot by Jackson Lima was not held by Bartolo and off the rebound, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza slammed the ball home.
Mifsud Triganza was then unlucky to hit the woodwork for the Wanderers on 82 minutes.
Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
FLORIANA William Amamoo, Owen Bugeja (83’ Joseph Borg), Manolito Micallef, Tyrone Farrugia, Duncan Pisani, Pablo Doffo, Ivan Woods, Thomas Paris (46’ Joseph Okonkwo), Christian Cassar, John Mintoff, Boris Odwong (68’ Manuel Bartolo).
Subs not used: Clyde Borg, Brooke Farrugia, Luke Agius, Andrew Spiteri.
Coach: Michael Woods
Assistant Coach: Frank Schembri
SLIEMA Henry Bonello, Alex Muscat (67’ Mark Scerri), Josef Mifsud, Ryan Grech, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (91′ Jeremiah Ani), Danial Mitev (54’ Clifford Gatt Baldacchino), Steve Bezzina, Jackson Lima Sequeira, Rumen Galabov, Roderick Bajada, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Jeremy Alden, Julian Briffa, Andrew Caligari, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Danilo Doncic
Assistant Coach: Saviour Debono Grech
Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap
Fourth official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: R. Grech, T. Paris, M. Micallef, H. Bonello, T. Farrugia
Red Cards: 37’ Ryan Grech, 66’ William Amamoo
Scorers: 74’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza
Attendance: 1,249