Tarxien Rainbows earn first point

Tarxien Rainbows collected their first point as they held Senglea Athletic in a 1-1 draw at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday.

Senglea, who were aiming for a third consecutive win following back-to-back victories over Lija and Birkirkara, therefore had to settle for a draw.

Steve D’Amato’s side took the lead on the 24th minute when Ivan Paz rounded a defender before hitting low past Christian Cassar from the right.

However Tarxien equalised on the 67th minute when off a cross by Artur Benes, Ryan Darmanin anticipated two defenders and hit hard past the Senglea goalkeeper.

TARXIEN Christian Cassar, Andre Scicluna, Ayrton Azzopardi, James Brincat, Luke Grech, Ryan Darmanin (79’ Matthew Spiteri), Ricardo Silva Faria, Sean Cipriott (66’ Matthew Desira Buttigieg), Godwin McKay (46′ Artur Benes), Ebiabowei Baker, Eduard Marian Calin.
Subs not used: Antonio Chetcuti, Matthew Brincat, Arsenne Rye Cilia Mumford, Andrew Agius.
Coach: Jose Borg

SENGLEA Timothy Aquilina, Jonathan Bondin, Steve Bonnici, Artur Terracciano, Matias Garcia, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano (85’ Ryan Dalli), Nicola Palmieri (77’ Hubert Vella), Ivan Paz, Augusto Rene Caseres, Terence Vella, Gonzalo Julian Leyton.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Beppe Muscat, Ian Azzopardi, Randall Vella, Jurgen Farrugia.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Ryan Aquilina
Fourth Official: Ishamel Barbara
Yellow Cards: Paz, Baker, Calin, Bondin, Ricardinho
BOV Player of the Match: Ivan Paz

Meanwhile at the National Stadium, Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways as they defeated Lija Athletic 2-0.

Stefano Bianciardi put the Wanderers ahead on the 16th minute and Jefferson Mateus de Assis Estácio doubled the score on the 77th minute.

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Jefferson Mateus de Assis, Leandro Motta dos Santos (59′ Gabriel Aquilina), John Mintoff, Peter Xuereb (45′ Nikola Gavric), Stefano Bianciardi, Edmond Agius, Ricardo Calisto Correa Duarte, Jonathan Pearson, Frank Temile (81′ Michele Sansone), Frenci Qeros.
Subs not used: Miguel Bonnici, Ryan Spiteri, Mark Scerri, Dylan Micallef.
Coach: John Buttigieg

LIJA Jonathan Martinelli, Predrag Babic, Leon Muscat (87′ Joaquin Lores Varela), Daniel Scerri, Erjon Beu, Leejoe Schembri (81′ Aaron Sammut), Antoine Borg, Abubakar Bello-Osagie, McAllister Clinch (77′ Carl Cassar), Ousmane Sidibe, Djamel Leeflang.
Subs not used: Luke Bonnici, Patrick Borg, Marcelo de Souza Dias, Nigel Spiteri.
Coach: Joe Galea

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Matthew De Gabriele
Yellow Cards: Temile, Aquilina
BOV Player of the Match: Frenci Qeros