The Malta Independent on Sunday
Kooh Sohna sparks Lija comeback for first win
tic pressure and they ended up infuriated by everything, from finding themselves two goals down within a 12-minute spell to the dismissal of their wide player Erjon Beu in between the goals.
After a promising start, there were signs that Lija had reverted to all their usual shortcomings – flimsy at the back, short of leadership and not enough players taking responsibility.
But looking sharper after the interval, they managed to come to terms with two goals by the 66th minute, exploiting gaps in the Tarxien defence, and finally score a stoppage-time winner in dramatic fashion.
Two goals to the good and an extra man, just past the half hour, left Tarxien harbouring hopes of snatching a much-needed win following defeats against Valletta and Birkirkara.
The Rainbows opened the scoring after 22 scrappy minutes, low on quality. Faria created space for Benes to advance from the right. His shot was blocked by keeper Bonnici and as Lija defender Cassar’s clearance rebounded off the bar, Ryan Darmanin was quick to head in the bouncing ball.
Hardly a minute later, Lija were reduced to ten men when Beu was sent off for two bookable offences.
Tarxien could exploit their numerical superiority on 34 minutes when awarded a corner after the goalkeeper had foiled Faria in- side the area. From the resultant Brincat corner, Darmanin’s glancing header was only parried by the grounded keeper Bonnici and Godwin McKay knocked the loose ball over the line to give his side a comfortable lead.
Centre back Patrick Borg pulled one back for them four minutes into the second half, after heading in a Schembri corner from the right.
A highly improved Lija side drew level on 66 minutes. Their striker Raphael Kooh Sohna, who was unable to accomplish anything on his own up front in the first half, ran clear, after robbing Baker of possession. His first effort hit the innerside of the bar and as the ball rebounded in play the same player finished off with a low drive.
As their energy levels subsided, Tarxien created precious little of note in the second half. They had a couple of flickers though and their biggest opportunity, on 65 minutes, fell to Brincat who took control of Calin’s long ball inside the Lija area but was thwarted by keeper Bonnici as he tried to evade him.
Numerical equilibrium was restored on 74 minutes when Cipriott was aslo sent off for the Rainbows.
And although Tarxien looked the stronger team in the dying minutes, Lija struck again in added time, Kooh Sohna again scoring a dramatic winner with a firm header for them to savour sweet victory.
There were joyous scenes for one side, dejection for the other at the end.