TARXIEN RAINBOWS 0
MARSAXLOKK 0
(Tarxien win 5-4 on penalties)
TARXIEN RAINBOWS
M. Spiteri; W. Filipe, J. Quitongo (63 E. De Oliveira), G. Vella, S. Mizzi, L. Borg (63 K. Gatt), K. Donsu (89 T. Santos), R. Tavares, Wallisson (84 O. De Barros), A. Vella, M. Grima.
MARSAXLOKK
P. Sanchez; E. Pepe, N. Muscat, N. Portelli, J. Ghio (83 E. Attard), Fred, J. Arias (90 A. Mayok), J. Vella, J. Corbalan, L. Aguirre, M. Barros (83 Dodo).
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.
Yellow cards: Ghio, Borg.
Penalty sequence: Portelli goal 1-0 (M); De Oliveira goal 1-1 (T); Aguirre miss 1-1 (M); Tavares goal 1-2 (T); Muscat goal 2-2 (M); Santos goal 2-3 (T); Dodo goal 3-3 (M); Grima goal 3-4 (T); Fred goal 4-4 (M); De Barros goal 4-5 (T).
Tarxien Rainbows produced the upset of the Jubilee Cup quarter-finals as they eliminated Marsaxlokk on penalties to book a semi-final date with Valletta on Wednesday.
Led by coach Jacques Scerri, the Rainbows entered the tie as heavy underdogs, sitting bottom of the Premier League with just six points. Marsaxlokk, meanwhile, are competing in the Top Six and were widely expected to secure a last-four berth.
Both sides deployed full-strength line-ups, mindful of the five-foreigner rule on the pitch, underlining the importance of the occasion.
Marsaxlokk made their intentions clear inside the first minute when José Arias curled an effort narrowly wide.
The Southseasiders began on the front foot, but Tarxien gradually grew into the contest.
The early exchanges produced controversy when Tarxien used their first Football Video Support (FVS) challenge after Jake Ghio fouled Sheldon Mizzi. Referee Slobodan Petrovic initially showed a yellow card and, after a brief review, upheld his original decision, leaving Tarxien with just one challenge after 10 minutes.
Marsaxlokk captain Nikolai Muscat was denied by Tarxien goalkeeper Miguel Spiteri before the Rainbows threatened through Wallisson, whose towering header from a James cross was saved by Pablo Sanchez. The Brazilian went close again with a long-range attempt that sailed over.
Leandro Aguirre rattled the outside of the post with one of his trademark free-kicks and later curled another from distance just wide as Marsaxlokk continued to probe. Arias also fired off target just before half-time as the match remained goalless.
Early in the second half, Marsaxlokk played their first FVS challenge following a suspected retaliation incident, but Petrovic dismissed their appeal.
Chances followed at both ends – Fred forced a corner with a deflected shot, while Barros was denied from close range by Spiteri.
Marsaxlokk thought they had finally broken the deadlock on 66 minutes when Barros finished from close range. However, Tarxien challenged the goal via FVS, with replays showing Arias had fouled Mizzi in the build-up. The goal was duly disallowed.
Tarxien responded with a dangerous free-kick that Sanchez palmed behind, while Arias once again came close with a first-time strike that brushed past the post, giving the illusion of a goal.
As the match wore on, both teams introduced players with penalties in mind. The tie ultimately headed to a shoot-out, where Tarxien were flawless, converting all five spot-kicks.
Marsaxlokk’s Aguirre was the lone player to miss, sending the Rainbows through to the semi-finals and completing one of the competition’s upsets.
