Tarxien Rainbows and Floriana shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Hibernians Stadium.
The Rainbows took an early lead but a penalty late in the game enabled Floriana to rescue a point and extend their positive run to four matches to join Mosta in third place. The Rainbows move on level points with Valletta, a point behind Floriana.
The Greens had no less than five changes from the team which defeated St. Andrews as Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Conor Borg, Juninho Cabral and Mario Fontanella were awarded a place in the starting line-up ahead of Steve Bonnici, Simeon Ezeadi, Mauricio Villa, Steve Pisani and Matteo Picciollo. Tarxien, on the other hand, had three changes from the team which defeated Naxxar as Manuel Caruana, Timmy Tabone Desira and Luke Montebello replaced Brandon Muscat, Ayrton Azzopardi and Danilo.
Tarxien took the lead on the 12th minute when Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos’ direct freekick from the left gave goalkeeper Calleja Cremona no chance.
Seven minutes from time, Welsh referee Ryan Stewart Bruno Giglio de Oliveira handled the ball inside the area and from the penalty spot, Mario Fontanella made no mistake.
TARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Manuel Caruana, Bruno Giglio De Oliveira, Timothy Tabone Desira, Triston Caruana, Lucky Omeruo, Carlos Menedez Hevia (70′ Roderick Bajada), Luke Montebello (56′ Danilo Meira Santos), Alex da Paixao Alves, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos (52′ Ayrton Azzopardi).
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Brandon Muscat, Gaetano Gesualdi, Daniel Zerafa.
Coach: Jacques ScerriFLORIANA Matthew Calleja Cremona, Antonio Monticelli (81′ Steve Pisani), Enrico Pepe (76′ Steve Bonnici), Clyde Borg, Conor Borg (60′ Matteo Picciollo), Juninho Cabral, Jurgen Pisani, Filippo Andrea Scozzese, Emanuel Briffa, Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fontanella.
Subs not used: Tyrone Gauci, Darrell Baldacchino, Luke Micallef, Firas Aboulezz.
Coach: Luis OliveiraReferee: Ryan Stewart
Assistant Referees: Ian Bird, Johnathan Bryant
Fourth Official: Iwan Griffith
Yellow Cards: Conor Borg, Bruno de Oliveira, Juninho
Scorers: 12′ Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos, 84′ Mario Fontanella pen
BOV Player of the Match: Bruno Giglio de Oliveira