Tarxien Rainbows bounced back in style following a heavy defeat to Gzira United last week as they registered a most comfortable 5-1 win over St. Andrews at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Friday to collect their first three points.

For St. Andrews, this defeat was a reality shock following a fine 3-1 win over Mosta in their first outing.

The Saints had two changes from the team which defeated Mosta as Miguel D’Alessandro and Kemmu Degran Jackson replaced Kyle Butler and the suspended Adrian Borg. Tarxien, on the other hand, had Moldovan international Radu Rogac, former Panathinaikos defender Jens Wemmer and Daren Falzon making their debut. They were included in the starting line-up along with Gabriel Aquilina, replacing Matthew Spiteri, Andrew Agius, Luke Grech and Miguel Ciantar.

Daren Falzon put the Rainbows ahead on the 14th minute when he received an assist by Michele Paolucci, placing the ball inside the empty net.

Tarxien doubled the score on the 23rd minute when Paolucci served Gabriel Aquilina who beat Calleja Cremona with a shot from the edge of the area.

Six minutes in the second half, Michele Paolucci extended the lead when he received an assist by Alex Nilsson and rounded a defender before hitting past the St. Andrews goalkeeper.

Alex Satariano pulled one back for St. Andrews on the 63rd minute after receiving a pass by Kevaughn Atkinson.

However Ricardinho converted a penalty on the 79th minute after being floored inside the area by Calleja Cremona.

On the 90th, Tarxien added another goal when Alex Nilsson sent Ricardinho through and the latter slotted the ball past the St. Andrews goalkeeper.

ST. ANDREWS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Miguel D’Alessandro (46′ Dejan Debono), Alex Satariano, Jason Vandelannoite, Amoy Brown (90′ Jacob Walker), Joseph Farrugia, Matthew Woo Ling, Kevaughn Atkinson, Martin Davis, Kemmu Degran Jackson (77′ Mattia Veselji), Travis Blagrove.
Subs not used: Duncan Formosa, Malcolm Vella Vidal, Karl Pulo, Thomas Vella.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

TARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Jens Wemmer, Radu Rogac (62′ Luke Grech), Daniel Zerafa, Matthew Brincat (46′ Alex Nilsson), Michele Paolucci, Gabriel Aquilina (71′ Matthew Spiteri), Daren Falzon, Stefan Radovanovic, Anderson Francisco de Barros, Ricardo Silva Faria.
Subs not used: Maverick Buhagiar, Dario Zampa, Andrew Agius, Miguel Ciantar.
Coach: Jose Borg

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Theodore Zammit
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: Satariano, Debono, Calleja Cremona
BOV Player of the Match: Michele Paolucci