Impressive win helps Tarxien catch up with Naxxar
Tarxien Rainbows beat Naxxar in a direct relegation tussle, to catch up with the same Naxxar on the 14point mark, putting the relegation issue wide open with seven games to go.
With Faria and Wellington Vierain splendid form, Tarxien were clinical in front of goal to bring to an end a five-match negative streak in which they only gained one point. Naxxar had some good movements in attack but their defence had an off day as it was ripped apart whenever Tarxien ventured forward.
The first feeble attempt at goal came from Naxxar with Bustos hitting wide from the edge of the area. Tarxien’s answer came on 20 minutes with the Naxxar goalkeeper Nicht making a great save off an Andrew Agius scorcher from well outside the area.
Sixty seconds later Messias passed towards Bustos whose shot just missed the crossbar. Tarxien started to gain some territorial superiority pushing Naxxar in their own half. On 35 minutes Tarxien broke the deadlock when Wellington made ground on the right and crossed towards Ricardo Silva Faria who drilled home from an ideal position.
But Tarxien’s joy was shortlived as two minutes later Naxxar were back on level terms when Belhadj passed towards Bustos whose low shot beat Cassar, with the ball possibly given the last kick by defender Scicluna in an attempt to clear.
But Tarxien quickly re-took the lead when Wellington De Oliveira Viera received a long ball that caught the Naxxar defence napping and the Tarxien striker made no mistake with a precise lob.
On 45 minutes Tarxien increased their lead when in a fast break Tounkara passed towards Wellington De Oliveira Viera who fired home a beauty from just inside the area.
Naxxar coach Oliver Spiteri introduced Ryan Gilmour Cassar and Darren Falzon at the start of the second half and after only two minutes the Lions were back in business when Baker headed into his own net a Bustos freekick.
But on 50 minutes Tarxien scored again when Angus Buhagiar handled inside the area and from the penalty spot Samba Tounkara fired in the top corner.
On the hour Naxxar had a good chance of pulling one back but Duane Bonnici fired on the onrushing Cassar.
Naxxar pushed forward to get back in the game but Tarxien were solid at the back with Baker making amends for his own goal with some timely clearances.
Three minutes from time Tarxien definitely put the game to bed when Faria crowned a good performance scoring from close range after beating the offside trap.