Tarxien Rainbows held by Pembroke Athleta

Pembroke created the first chance of the match after fourteen minutes. From a free kick, Andrea Scozzese fired a shot that forced a good save from Andrea Cassar.

Tarxien responded through Daniel Ponce De Leon Garcia. The Spanish player sent a shot from the edge of the penalty area that went high.

Winston Muscat’s side went ahead on the 19th minute. Brandon Muscat went on a good run down the right side and sent a cross towards Asani Djeljilj who finished past Cassar.

The Rainbows equalised five minutes from the break. From a corner, Triston Caruana delivered a cross inside the penalty area that was met by Ebiabowei Baker who headed past Matthew Calleja Cremona.

Tarxien were close again on the 43rd minute when Alex Nilsson sent a shot that was neutralised by Calleja Cremona.

Andrea Cassar was alert to deny Pembroke on the 60th minute.  Djeljilj attempted his luck from a free kick, but the Tarxien goalkeeper went down his left side and neutralised.

Tarxien hit back with a goal on the 66th minute. Alex Da Paixao Alves went on the right side before delivering a cross inside the penalty area that found Ponce De Leon Garcia who fired past Calleja Cremona from close range.

Da Paixao Alves went close again on the 76th minute when he received the ball on the edge of the penalty area before firing wide.

The Rainbows kept putting pressure, and a minute later, Dylan Micallef went inside the penalty area from the left side, but Calleja Cremona blocked his effort.

Calleja Cremona was crucial again on the 81st minute to deny Triston Caruana. The Tarxien captain sent a shot from a free kick that took a deflection off a defender before being punched behind by the twenty two year old goalkeeper.

Despite Tarxien’s pressure, Pembroke managed to equalise two minutes from time. The referee whistled for a free kick on the edge of the penalty area after Barbetti was brought down. From the free kick, Mateus Regis Da Silva fired a shot that took a deflection off Zoran Levinic before ending up inside the net.

Pembroke Athleta starting line-up: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Manolito Micallef, Oleksandr Maksymov, Andrea Scozzese, Adrian Borg, Brandon Muscat, Zoran Levnaic, Asali Djelilj, Luke Montebello, Paltemio Barbetti, Siraj Arab.

Tarxien Rainbows starting line-up: Andrea Cassar, Ebiabowei, Eloyedu Nkene, Triston Caruana, Daniel Ponce De Leon Garcia, Alex Nilsson, Emerson Marcellino, Sergio Fernandes Prendes, Daniel Zerafa, Alex Da Paixao Alces, Kurt Zammit.

Referee: Etienne Mangion

Assistant referees: Mitchell Scerri, Thomas Debono

Fourth official: Clayton Pisani.

BOV player of the match: Alex Da Paixao Alves (Tarxien Rainbows)