Tarxien clinch dramatic first win

secutive defeats.

In an attempt to arrest his side’s slump, coach Marko Glumac sought defensive security and made two changes at the back, with Liam Grech starting as centre back and Jamaican Nehemiah Perry wide on the bottom place as they lift themselves on four points, above Naxxar Lions and Lija Athletic in the standings.

With Balzan and Valletta winning on Friday and Hamrun Spartans winning earlier in the afternoon, the pressure was on Sliema, who could not afford to drop any points to keep the pace with the leading pack.

A slicker Sliema were unable to convert their chances, thanks also to Christian Cassar’s fine display in the Tarxien goal, and surely need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

Tarxien took the lead midway through the half after a quiet opening. Ryan Darmanin pounced on Azzopardi’s pass and ran clear through the Sliema rearguard to beat keeper Glenn Zammit.

Sliema’s midfield must have suffered in the absence of Peter Xuereb and Mark Scerri yesterday, but Matias Muchardi, Edmond Agius and Gabriel Aquilina produced some tireless workrate to help their side draw level before halftime.

After falling behind, the Wanderers laid siege on Tarxien’s fort. McKay had to block Gavric’s shot into a corner and an Agius drive from a distance took another deflection into a corner.

Parity was restored on 35 minutes when there was a misunderstanding between Scicluna and Grech in left. Atkinson made way for Tano Azian in attack, but he was often starved of service.

Senglea’s game plan remained simple. Four at the back, Garzia and Hubert Vella in front of them, with wide players Virano and Paz supporting the attack- defence, their poor clearance fell straight to Jefferson De Assis who beat keeper Cassar with a low strike at the bottom end of goal.

Sliema kept up the pressure but could not add further goals before halftime. Muchardi had a shot going narrowly off target before Tarxien keeper Cassar rushed off his line to thwart De Assis, put through by Aquilina.

The Rainbows, though made to look ragged at times, did not bow down and Darmanin cracked a ing duo of Caseres and Escobar.

Quality was in short supply in the first half, but the best opportunities came for Senglea when Caseres went past two opponents inside the Saints area but failed to conclude towards goal in the opening minutes. rasping low shot that just missed the target, on 50 minutes, before getting injured and forced to leave his place to Mateo Desira Buttigieg.

Sliema, however, kept up the tempo in the second half, playing with more intensity than their opponents. But they could find few openings.

Tarxien’s McKay was lucky when, on 67 minutes, his late tackle from behind on De Assis, running clear towards goal, was not sanctioned by the referee.

Their efforts in the late stages, brought Sliema no rewards as Tarxien keeper Cassar denied Mintoff on 73 minutes and then again saved Temile’s shot when well served by Qeros eight minutes from the end.

As the match looked heading towards a draw, Tarxien struck the fatal blow deep into four minutes of added time, with defender Andre Scicluna heading in Brincat’s sailing free kick to clinch a most dramatic win.

Silvio Vella There was drama at the death in this shambolic affair at the Centenary Stadium yesterday, with St Andrews beating nine-man Senglea Athletic thanks to a Joseph Farrugia free kick in added time. Senglea’s three-match unbeaten run was thus...

Ryan Darmanin, centre, of Tarxien Rainbows is submerged by his team mates after putting his side in the lead against Sliema Wanderers Photo: Domenic Aquilina