Third win in a row for Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia registered a third win on the trot as they defeated Neighbours Tarxien Rainbows 3-1 at the Hibernians Stadium on Sunday. A win which enables Oliver Spiteri’s side to move ninth on the 20-point mark.

After the winter break, Santa Lucia have therefore an unbeaten run in league matches following the draw with Valletta and the wins over Gzira United, Gudja United and Tarxien Rainbows.

On the other hand, Tarxien, who were coming from a win over Hamrun Spartans in their last outing, suffer their fifteenth defeat this season to remain anchored at the bottom of the table.

Santa Lucia took the lead on the 29th minute when off a cross by Paulo Henrique, Maxuell Maia da Silva headed home past goalkeeper Rudy Briffa.

Just before the end of the first half, Tarxien equalised through substitute Miguel Ciantar who slotted the ball past Timothy Aquilina when served by Veronese.

However, on the 64th minute, Santa Lucia regained the lead thanks to Maxuell Maia da Silva who converted a penalty after a defender handled the ball inside the area.

Two minutes from time, Tarxien were reduced to ten men after Brandon Muscat received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle.

In added time, Paulo Henrique Santos de Azevedo sealed the issue with a third goal, slotting the ball past the Tarxien custodian after a swift counter-attack.

TARXIEN Rudy Briffa, Thomas Veronese, Destin Mambouana (56’ Ayrton Azzopardi), Kazuki Ohala, Brandon Muscat, Aleksa Andrejic, Stiv Shaba, Marko Stanojevic, Matthew Tabone (39’ Miguel Ciantar), Luca Brincat, Daniel Zerafa.
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Daniel Vassallo, Kurt Borg, Keith Attard, Dale Tabone.
Coach: Demis Paul Scerri

SANTA LUCIA Timothy Aquilina, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Kevin Correia Pinheiro, Jackson Usuga Mendoza, Maxuell Maia da Silva (75’ Omar Elouni), Kevin Ante Rosero, Jacob Walker (69’ Adam Magri Overend), Jamie Zerafa, Camilo del Castillo Escobar, Paulo Henrique Santos De Azevedo, Leighton Grech (83’ Daniel Agius).
Subs not used: Ryan Caruana, Jamie Magri Overend, Brady Agius, Lee Galea.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri
Asst Coach: Brian Chetcuti

Referee: Jason Barcelo (GIB)
Assistant Referees: Daniel Gomez Gordillo, Denis Perez (GIB)
Fourth Official: Seth Galia (GIB)
Yellow Cards: Tabone, Escobar, Maxuell, Shaba, Correia, Muscat, Zerafa, Briffa
Red Cards: 88’ Brandon Muscat
BOV Player of the Match: Maxuell Maia da Silva