Stoppage-time goal stops Tarxien from claiming first win

With a goal deep in stoppage time, Senglea Athletic rescued a point in a 2-2 draw with Tarxien Rainbows at the Centenary Stadium on Monday as the latter seemed heading towards their first win this season.

Tarxien, therefore, ended their first round commitments on a positive note as they obtained their first positive result this season after twelve defeats in as many matches. Senglea, on the other hand, still have little to cheer for as this was only their second point in six matches.

After a good start for Tarxien, against the run of play, Senglea took the lead on the 34th minute when goalkeeper Rudy Briffa saved partially a freekick by Jan Tanti from the left and Wilfried Zamble hit home off the rebound. 

Tarxien levelled matters on the 68th minute thanks to Miguel Ciantar who received an assist inside the area and with a low shot, beat goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

Seven minutes later, Destin Mambouana made it 2-1 for Tarxien after pouncing on the ball following an erratic throw-in on the left and rounded the goalkeeper before placing it at the back of the net.

Substitute Gonzalo Nicolas Virano was sent off for Senglea for serious foul play on Andrejic on the 90th but five minutes in added time, Senglea were awarded an indirect freekick inside the area and Jose Wilkson Teixeira slotted the ball past Rudy Briffa to equalise.

SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Sigitas Olberkis, Dejan Debono, Elvis Sakyi, Leighton Grech (73’ Andrei Spiteri), Manolito Micallef, Taisei Marukawa (58’ Ricardo Theodoro de Almeida), Jose Wilkson Teixeira, Jan Tanti, Sean Cipriott (80’ Gonzalo Nicolas Virano), Wilfried Zamble.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Karl Pulo, Justin Micallef, David Xuereb.
Coach: Steven Vella
Goalkeepers Coach: Mario Muscat

TARXIEN Rudy Briffa, Marco Botta, Thomas Veronese, Destin Mambouana, Gary Camilleri, Ayrton Azzopardi (65’ Brooke Farrugia), Aleksa Andrejic, Miguel Ciantar, Petar Kanzurov, Jairo Andres Tenorio (52’ Nevin Portelli), Daniel Zerafa.
Subs not used: Jamie Pace, Dale Tabone, Daniel Vassallo, Cedric Zahra, Christian Desira.
Coach: Demis Paul Scerri

Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, James Muscat
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Olberkis, Kanzurov, Portelli, Farrugia, Mambouana, Ciantar
Red Cards: 90’ Gonzalo Virano
BOV Player of the Match: Miguel Ciantar
Attendance: 169