Tarxien hold Spartans as Marsaxlokk shine in opening weekend

Ħamrun Spartans 1 – 1 Tarxien Rainbows

Newly-promoted Tarxien Rainbows earned a valuable point in their YoHealth Malta Premier League opener after holding title-chasing Ħamrun Spartans to a 1-1 draw.

The Rainbows got off to a dream start, taking the lead on 4 minutes when Erico Junior headed home from Nhayson Da Silva’s cross. Despite Ħamrun’s territorial dominance, Tarxien’s reorganized squad – with ten debutants in the starting XI – stayed compact and threatened on the counter.

Ħamrun, coming off European action against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, struggled to find fluency and lost midfielder Jovan Cadjenovic to injury early on. Their persistence paid off in the 76th minute, when substitute Ante Coric delivered a pinpoint free-kick for Vincenzo Polito, who converted to secure the equaliser.

In stoppage time, Tarxien nearly snatched all three points, but Claudio Barbosa’s curling free-kick struck the crossbar.

Marsaxlokk 3 – 1 Mosta

At Ta’ Qali, Marsaxlokk sent a clear statement of intent with a confident 3-1 victory over Mosta, powered by a brace from Brazilian forward Marcel Barros.

Barros opened the scoring after 16 minutes, but Mosta captain Zachary Brincat equalised from a corner shortly after. Marsaxlokk regained control just after the restart, with Barros heading home his second before Dodo sealed the win on 53 minutes following an assist from Ayom Majok.

Mosta battled but their hopes faded when defender Giancarlo Goncalves was sent off deep into stoppage time.

Match Stats

Ħamrun Spartans 1–1 Tarxien Rainbows

• Goals: Junior 4’ (TRX); Polito 76’ (ĦAM)

• Referee: Ezekiel Barbara

• Yellow Cards: Grima, Simkus, Micallef, Cassar, Barbosa, De Barros

• Lineups:

  • Tarxien: A. Cassar, Salomao, Santos, Leal De Barros (81 Tavares), Bastos (71 Dos Santos), Barbosa, Junior (60 G. Vella), Da Silva, Zango, A. Vella, Grima.

  • Ħamrun: Celio, N. Micallef, Xerri, Letherby (68 Mbong), Thioune, Polito, Cadjenovic (13 Garcia), Mihana (46 Attard), Simkus, El Fanis (46 Coric), Hadzi (80 Camenzuli).

Marsaxlokk 3–1 Mosta

• Goals: Barros 16’, 46’, Dodo 53’ (MRX); Brincat 28’ (MOS)

• Referee: Fyodor Zammit

• Yellow Cards: Dodo (MRX), Sena, Brincat (MOS)

• Red Card: Goncalves (Mosta) 90’

• Lineups:

  • Marsaxlokk: Mafoumbi; El Hasni, Pepe (68 Soares), Muscat, Arias, Corbalan, Dodo (87 J. Vella), Minala (87 Ghio), Aguirre, Santos, Majok (61 Portelli).

  • Mosta: Demba; Goncalves, Victor, Sciberras (89 Farrugia), N. Agius (46 Diarra), Hurtado, Emmanuel, Okereke (66 GTA), Vassallo, Brincat (75 L. Da Silva), Sena (66 A. Agius).

Gerald Fenech

Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist