Tarxien Rainbows returned to winning ways as a penalty by Raphael Kooh Sohna just before the end of the first half handed them a narrow win over Balzan at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday.
A win which cuts the gap with Balzan to just four points although they remain third from bottom. Balzan share the fourth place from bottom with Zejtun.
Tarxien scored the all-important goal two minutes in added time – before the end of the first half when Michael Johnson floored Vito Plut inside the area; referee Etienne Mangion ordered a penalty and Raphael Kooh Sohna made no mistake.
In the second half, Balzan pressed hard for the equaliser, hitting the woodwork on the 63rd minute with Weverton Gomes from outside the area and off the rebound, Weverton’s effort was partially saved by Jurgen Borg.
Nine minutes later, Ljubomirac delivered a cross from the right and Alfred Effiong tried to head home, with the ball being deflected by defender Carlos Conceicao Filho onto the upright.
Substitute Moussa Sanoh had a fine effort from outside the area which was partially saved by Jurgen Borg on 82 minutes and off the rebound, Effiong’s effort was blocked by the goalkeeper with the ball hitting the foot of the post.
BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Augustine Loof, Milan Djuric, Paul Fenech (Alfred Effiong), Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina (82′ Gary Camilleri), Michael Johnson, Uros Ljubomirac, Stefan Dimic (73′ Sean Cipriott), Weverton Gomes, Aleksa Andrejic (59′ Moussa Sanoh).
Subs not used: Andy Catania Gilson, Marcus Grima, Zak Grech.
Coach: Mark MillerTARXIEN Jurgen Borg, Carlos da Silva Conceicao Filho, Brandon Muscat, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Daniel Zerafa, Darren Falzon (90+1′ Luke Sciberras), Vito Plut, Eduardo Rosado, Ivan Edgardo Paz, Kyle Gatt (70′ Leonardo Henrique Ferreira), Raphael Kooh Sohna.
Subs not used: Brandon Debono, Cedric Zahra, Jurgen Debono, Dale Tabone, Keith Attard.
Coach: Winston MuscatReferee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Plut, Falzon, Fenech, Mintoff, Johnson, Sanoh, Muscat, Conceicao
BOV Player of the Match: Raphael Kooh Sohna