The Malta Independent on Sunday
Haber gifts Tarxien Rainbows a first victory
Tarxien Rainbows secured a first win this season as they beat the more fancied Floriana by a solitary goal.
It was a lapse by goalie Justin Haber which gifted the Rainbows the three points. This was one of the most surprising results so far this season even if the Rainbows played with great determination.
They worked hard for their win and one appreciated the way they took the game to Floriana playing direct football whenever they had the ball at their feet.
It was a very keenly contested match in which the official, Malcolm Spiteri, three red cards and no fewer than seven yellow cards.
Ignacio Varela almost gave Floriana an early lead when Alex Cini played a looping ball over Tarxien’s wall to set up the striker who looked to have taken the ball behind Philip Schranz. But the goalkeeper got a vital touch to send the ball around the post.
On 22 minutes, the same player came even closer when the lively Nicolas Chiesa sent him clear but the Argentine striker saw his effort blocked by Schranz’s foot.
Tarxien were rather poor up front where Claudio Frances and Alex Nilsson found it hard to penetrate a strong defence.
And before the interval, they certainly thanked Floriana goalkeeper Haber who mistimed a sortie from a corner giving the easiest of opportunities to Sergio Prendes to tap the ball home from close in.
Tedesco made a substitution at half-time, bringing on Mario Fontanella, and adjusting his side to 4-3-3. The second half produced more palpitating moments with Floriana going close through Steve Pisani who unleashed a low drive that Schranz pushed his effort against the base of the post.
After 53 minutes, Prendes with an elevated foot, clattered into Chiesa as the Floriana skipper went down, the Spanish winger was involved in an altercation with Clyde Borg with referee Malcolm Spiteri brandishing the red card dismissing both players.
Schranz then could not hold Pisani’s long-range effort but he recovered quickly to block Fontanella as the Italian striker fell under the challenge, the referee played advantage, allowing Amadou Samb to try his shot at goal. Since the Senegalese striker was unsuccessful, the referee ordered the penalty but Fontanella’s shot from the spot went high over the bar, confirming that it was not Floriana’s day.
Tedesco looked to Gustavo Amadio for inspiration, the Brazilian winger replacing Varela with 25 minutes to go. Floriana insisted and anoither effort by Pisani went searing towards goal only for a Tarxien defender to block. Schranz then produced a stunning diving save to keep out Amadio’s drive two minutes from time.
Tarxien finished with men when substitute Rogelio Van Horn Avila Filho earned two bookable offences in quick succession.
Despite the ten minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official, Floriana had no more energy reserves to trouble their opponents as Tarxien held on for a crucial win.