Tarxien blitz earns them precious win over Sirens

TARXIEN RAINBOWS     3

Leozinho 52, 57

Plut 62

SIRENS                               1

Tounkara 90

TARXIEN
J. Borg-7.5; C. Conceicao-7; E. Zarate-7.5 (89 N. Attard); D. Falzon-6 (76 M. Spiteri); V. Plut-6.5 (86 C. Zahra); J. Debono-6.5; Leozinho-7; E. Rosado-6; I. Paz-6.5; M. Tabone-6.5; C. Escobar-6.5.

SIRENS
E. Elezaj-5; L. Bittaye-5; H. Kone-6.5; W. Domoraud-6; E. Callegari-6; A. Borg-5.5; J. Walker-5; S. Tounkara-6.5; R. Scicluna-6; T. Agius-6; M. Bustos-5.5.

Referee Emanuel Grech.

Yellow cards Bittaye, Falzon, Leonardo, Zarate, Elezaj.

Missed penalty Ivan Paz (T) 89.

BOV Player of the Match Leozinho (Tarxien Rainbows).

Tarxien Rainbows claimed three valuable points as they defeated Sirens 3-1.

Three goals in a span of 10 second-half minutes fended off Sirens as the Rainbows leapfrogged Lija at third from bottom.

With 15 points, they are five away from the play-out spot as Winston Muscat’s team fights for survival.

Sirens, on their part, remain eighth with 25 points after a disappointing defeat yesterday.

Tarxien Rainbows had a first chance on goal after 19 minutes, when Eduardo Rosado attempted a first-timer which was smothered by Entonio Elezaj.

The Rainbows threatened again through Ivan Paz, whose low drive went wide from goal.

Five minutes from half-time, Daren Falzon tried his luck from the edge of the area but missed the target.

Sirens’ Wilfried Domoraud had the final chance of the opening half, only to be denied by Jurgen Borg.

At the restart, Hamed Kone headed a ball towards Borg just to see his attempt sail over the bar as Sirens looked brighter in the second half.

Nonetheless, it was Tarxien who forged ahead when Edison Zarate pulled out a trademark through ball towards Leozinho who slotted the ball past Elezaj.

Moments later, Tarxien’s goalkeeper Borg denied Samba Tounkara with a brilliant save. This chance came back to haunt Sirens as they conceded a second soon after.

A long throw-in from Camilo Escobar found Leozinho inside the penalty box and the Brazilian lobbed the ball over Elezaj.

Tarxien wrapped up the win past the hour mark when Zarate was floored by Elezaj with the referee pointing to the spot.

Vito Plut converted from the spot to net his sixth goal of the season.

In the closing stages, Ivan Paz could have added Tarxien’s tally but failed to convert a penalty.

Deep into stoppage time, Lamin Bittaye scored a consolation goal for Sirens.