Fifth defeat in a row for Tarxien

Birkirkara maintained the challenge for a place in the UEFA Europa League this summer thanks to a 2-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows at the Centenary Stadium on Friday.

Tarxien, on the other hand, continue to disappoint as they suffered a fifth consecutive defeat which leaves them on the 19-point mark.

Birkirkara took the lead five minutes in the second half when off a Johann Bezzina freekick, Nikola Vukanac headed home past goalkeeper Maverick Buhagiar.

Ten minutes from time, the Rainbows were reduced to ten men after having Jacson de Paixao sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

The Stripes sealed the issue on the 88th minute thanks to Luke Montebello who chested the ball down following a Johann Bezzina freekick before beating Maverick Buhagiar.

TARXIEN Maverick Buhagiar, Juan Cruz Gill, Daniel Zerafa, Gabriel Aquilina, Darren Falzon, Siraj Arab Eddin (75’ Michele Paolucci), Destin Prince-Loic Mambouana, Anderson de Barros (88’ Matthew Spiteri), Ricardo Silva Faria, Alex Nilsson, Jacson de Paixao.
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Matthew Brincat, Andrew Agius, Luke Grech, Miguel Ciantar.
Coach: Jose Borg

B’KARA Kristijan Naumovski, Matthew Guillaumier (57’ Mislav Andjelkovic), Luke Montebello, Johann Bezzina, Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Ferreira dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac, Cain Attard, Terence Agius (81’ Paul Mbong), Marcelo de Siqueira, Thiago de Souza de Brito (71’ Michael Mifsud).
Subs not used: Amara Sylla, Danilo Chapoval, Clayton Failla, Gianluca Bugeja.
Coach: Mark Buttigieg
Asst. Coach: John Arne Riise

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Dusan Petrovic, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Ricardinho, Mambouana, Jacson, Zerafa
Red Cards: 80’ Jacson de Paixao
BOV Player of the Match: Johann Bezzina