Swieqi no match for superior Tarxien

Tarxien Rainbows advanced to the 4th round of the competition when they defeated Swieqi United 3-0.

Matar Dieye scored a goal in each half, while Matthew Brincat scored the third early in the second half.

It was a richly deserved victory for the Rainbows who were obviously the better team on the field of play. But despite their dominance, they had to wait till the second half to make sure of their victory, adding two more goals to the only one they had scored in the first period.

The first half was very entertaining. Tarxien showed the better ideas and at the interval, they deserved to be leading.

Swieqi did not just stare at their opponents and also had their own good moments.

In the second half, Tarxien exerted total dominance and scored two goals in the opening 15 minutes, following which they gave Swieqi no chance to hit back.

Both goalkeepers, especially Tarxien’s Chetcuti, were very busy in the opening 15 minutes. Chetcuti was called upon to save three Swieqi efforts from Nicholas Schembri, Dean Grech and R. Taliana, while at the other end, an Andrew Agius shot was turned to corner by Swieqi goalie Jean Claude Debattista.

On 25 minutes, Tarxien went close through Desira Buttigieg, but his shot was booted out by Debattista. Soon after, Swieqi threatened to take the lead through a Margarit header which went inches wide.

The Rainbows took the lead on 38 minutes through Matar Dieye who flicked the ball home after some good work by Desira Buttigieg. And before the interval whistle, Dieye should have added a second goal, but he seemed to have been taken completely by surprise in front of an open goal, allowing the ball to pass through, failing to apply the final touch.

In the second half, Tarxien showed their intentions early and in the 47th minute, they already went close through a Brincat shot which Debattista turned to corner with difficulty.

Then in the 55th minute, Matthew Brincat scored the second direct from a freekick and five minutes later, it was Dieye who scored the third past a helpless Debattista.

Tarxien again went close on 78 minutes, but a Faria shot was excellently turned to corner by Debattista.

Just before the end, Swieqi had Kyle Muscat dismissed, but the result never changed.