LIJA ATHLETIC                  0

TARXIEN RAINBOWS      4

Lija A: L. Bonnici, D. Agius, P. Borg, D. Scerri, N. Spiteri (C. Celis), A. Sammut, R. Kooh Sohna, O. Sidibe, K. Hirose, V. Hysa (L. Schembri), R. Sammut (A. Borg)

Tarxien R: A. Cassar (D. Sciberras), S. Radovanovic, A. Scicluna, G. Aquilina, L. Grech, A. Mitrev, S. Tounkara, W. Viera (M. Brincat), E. Calin, R. Faria, S. Cipriott (B. Traore)

Referee: J. Utulu

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: P. Farrugia

Scorers: A. Scicluna 17, S. Tounkara 31, 40, G. Aquilina 80

Yellow cards: P. Borg, D. Scerri

Player of the match: S. Tounkara (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. S. Tounkara   2. G. Aquilina  3. D. Scerri

Attendance: 86

Tarxien Rainbows hit four past Lija Athlteic to win this battle of the basement and give their own survival hopes some boost.

By halftime, Tarxien had monopolised the ball in a contest that had degenerated into an exercise of attack versus defence and were already three goals to the good.

There was much to admire in the attacking intelligence, enterprise and quick feet of Samba Tounkara, who scored two of the goals and was twice denied by the woodwork.

The fixture with fellow strugglers St Andrews in the coming weeks will go a long way in settling the Rainbows’ fate this season.

Lija, in contrast, look doomed. They remain anchored to the bottom of the table,  12 points adrift of the last safe spot with just four fixtures remaining. And it is hard to see how a team that have registered only one victory this season can put together the sort of run that will be needed to pull off such an act of escapology. The final verdict might be decided this weekend.

Lija showed a decent level of commitment. They had harried and hassled admirably in the opening minutes but they remain an alarmingly blunt outfit. Little creativity, little spark and, as such their supporters are left with little hope.

Tarxien coach Jose Borg made only two changes from the side that lost to Valletta the previous week. One was forced upon him because of Baker’s suspension, while Sean Cipriott started instead of Andrew Agius.

Lija, who had lost to Birkirkara with a fight, were without Clinch, Leejoe Schembri and their most creative player Erjon Beu yesterday.

They started brightly enough though in a flowing first quarter hour that saw their efforts from Hysa and Hirose held out by the alert Tarxien keeper Andrea Cassar.

Tarxien had also been threatening, Tounkara and Aquilina going close with their efforts. A low Tounkara shot was saved by the grounded Lija keeper on the quarter hour. Only two minutes later Tarxien were in front. Andre’ Scicluna advanced from the byeline on the right, his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper but the ball rebounded off his legs and crossed the line.

Tarxien could have doubled their lead minutes later. Tounkara ran clear, lobbed the ball over the onrushing Lija keper but the ball skimmed the urpright.

The problem for Lija was that chasing an equaliser meant they had to show more adventure going forward.

The Rainbows offered no respite though. And before the half was over, Samba Tounkara had punished them further with a brace within nine minutes.

Past the half hour he flicked in a Faria low cross from the right and five minutes before the break, the Mali forward, well served by Aquilina, curled the ball low beyond keeper Bonnici to give his side a most comfortable lead.

Lija tried to keep the score down as much as possible in the second half. Tarxien eased some of their intesnity but remained potent going forward. Tounkara had thumped his shot against the bar and Faria headed Calin’s corner narrowly wide before the hour.

On 69 minutes, Aquilina played a square pass inside the area. Tounkara shot over.

Then Viera put Faria through but keeper Bonnici blocked into a corner.

There was no denying Tarxien ten minutes from time however. Substitute Brincat hit Tounkara’s cross first time, but keeper Bonnici repelled his shot only for Gabriel Aquilina to volley in his side’s fourth.

Lija showed up with a Celis late effort but, unlike in this first round fixture, there was never likely to be a way back for a team with such fragile confidence.