Lija bounce back in second half
Lija bounced back in the second half to beat Vittoriosa and join the Cottonera side in the top places of the standings.
It was an exciting matach with Vittoriosa leading by the break, with Lija coming back strongly in the second part for a deserved victory, as they also hit the woodwork three times during the 90 minutes.
Erjon Beu missed a sitter for Lija on seven minutes and ten minutes later Vittoriosa took the lead when central defender Petar Mrvic headed powerfully home an Andre Farrugia corner.
On 28 minutes Vittoriosa should have doubled the score when Liam Gauci shot straight at Bonnici’s hands following some good work from Fabjo Dhrami. Minutes later Gauci again tested Bonnici who saved in style.
On 36 minutes Lija’s Garcia Vidal shot wide when well placed and three minutes later Lija were rather unlucky when Ige Adeshina’s low drive hit the base of the upright.
In the dying stages of the first half Vittoriosa’s Pisani’s effort slightly missed the upright and on the other end Erjon Beu was unlucky when his lob was stopped by the crossbar and from the rebound Garcia Vidal’s drive was blocked by Magri.
On the hour Lija were back on level terms when Erjon Beu scored a gem of a goal from the edge of the area giving Magri no chance to save.
Lija kept piling up the pressure as Vittoriosa were now at sixes and sevens. On 70 minutes goalkeeper Magri saved his side from another shot by Beu who was well served by Ige Adeshina.
But 60 seconds later Lija scored what proved to be the winner when Paolo Dandolo headed home a McAllister Clinch inchperfect cross.
Lija should have added a third in the dying seconds of the game but Bello Osagie’s strike slammed against the crossbar.
Vittoriosa: K. Magri, D. Pisani (J. Galea), C. Spiteri, F. Dhrami, R. Previ, P. Mrvic, G. Sultana (E. Paso), A. Galea, A. Farrugia, D. Fava, L. Gauci (C. Mallia)
Lija: L. Bonnici, C. Cassar (B. Jaccarini) , P. Babic, L. Muscat, D. Scerri, E. Beu, J. Garcia Vidal (A. Bello Osagie), A. Galea, Mc. Clinch, P. Dandolo (L.J. Schembri), A. Ige
Referee: Glenn Tonna