Zebbug Rangers win first match to add more woes to disappointing Rainbows

This was by far the Rangers’ best performance with a strong attacking play looking dangerous on every occasion.  Despite the three points, Zebbug remain bottom in the table but move four points behind Tarxien.  For the Rainbows this was the eight consecutive negative result.

It was the Rainbows who took the lead on the 12th minute when Carlos Hevia Mendez skipped past a defender and with a neat finish placing the ball at the back of the net.  Zebbug responded a few moments later when with an attempt by Britto who shot high after receiving a cross from Bojan Mamic.  Then it was again Britto who was continuously threating the tarxien defence, who shot high with a similar attempt at goal.

Three minutes from the end of the first half Cleber Barbosa Viana saw his effort easily saved by the opposition’s goalkeeper.

Six minutes into the second half, Zebbug equalised from a well taken corner kick by Muchardi, and a great header by Mamic who gave the keeper no chance.

Zebbug again continued to pressurise their opponents and two minutes after grabbing the equaliser, they went close to forging ahead when after a through ball from Bartolo towards Britto saw keeper Sean Cini reaching the ball before the striker.

On the seventieth minute, substitute Miguel Ciantar went close for the Rangers but could only put the ball wide with a weak effort.  However Zebbug were to be rewarded for their persistence and on the ninetieth minute, from a free kick taken by Muchardi, Yesous Camilleri rose above the Tarxien defenders  to head the ball into the net and hand a much needed first victory.

Carlos Menendez Hevia was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Tarxien Rainbows: Mintoff, Farrugia, Caruana, Rodrigues Silva (Cini 65’), Barbosa Viana, Caruana, Sammut, Hevia Menendez, Tabone, Lopes Pereira, Santos Silva

Zebbug Rangers: Rapchan Dos Santos Morales, Paris (Pena Marquez 87’), Bartolo, Gauci, Camilleri, Borg, Britto, Galea, Muchardi, Farrugia (Ciantar 25’), Mamic

Referee: Clayton Pisani