Pieta H-Lija A   2-2

Pieta Hotspur returned to top division football after a six year absence when yesterday they obtained the much needed point against third placed Lija Athletic. Cameroon striker Raphael Kooh Sohna was again instrumental for his side scoring the first goal, with Orosco Anonam scoring the much needed equaliser.
Lija Athletic gave a very good fight and a solid display yesterday even turning the tide in their favour with two quick goals in the second half, but Pieta were not to be denied and the 72nd minutes equalizer was the goal that put Pieta back with the elite.
It was a deserved reward for Noel Coleiro’s side, who gave some outstanding performances during this season, always among the top teams. Kooh Sohna was surely their star throughout the season but others like Refalo, Zarate, Ricardo Costa, Cain Attard and Jurgen Pisani gave a valid contribution to help Pieta reach their goal. 
Pieta had a very promising start, completely dominating their opponents who had to defend for long stretches. Pieta went close with a close range effort from Jurgen Pisani, with the ball finishing well over the bar, with Lija hitting back with a Kiril Aleksandrov header going slightly wide.
On 14 minutes Pieta went close when Raphael Kooh Sohna dashed inside the box but his effort was blocked in time by defender Fleri Soler. The match was more balanced in the central part of the first half with Lija gaining ground and having a better control of the midfield sector.
On 32 minutes Pieta went close again with a Cesare dangerous cross shot well saved by Camilleri. Sixty seconds later a Quilin Refalo shot almost deceived Matthew Camilleri with the ball slightly missing the base of the upright.
On 36 minutes Pieta broke the deadlock when Jurgen Pisani had a fine run on the left flank and crossed in the center where Raphael Kooh Sohna darted inside the box and slotted the ball home. A minute later Pieta almost doubled the score with Ricardo Costa’s shot going wide.
A minute before the break Lija should have obtained the equalizer when Ige Adeshina pounced on a Pieta defensive blunder, but was pushed off the ball by Anonam, with the referee turning a blind eye on the incident.
Six minutes into the second half Pieta were rather unlucky when a Kyle Cesare scorcher from the heart of the penalty area rattled the crossbar. On 62 minutes Lija drew level when Timothy Fleri Soler’s low cross was met by substitute Calabretta who shot home from close range. Two minutes later Lija took the lead when from a Beppe Antignolo corner, Kiril Aleksandrov beat all in the air on the far post to head home. 
On 72 minutes Pieta were back on level terms when a Terence Agius corner was met by Grech whose cross found Orosco Anonam completely unmarked, and the central defender headed home from close range.
In the final minutes both sides were happy with the result obtained and Pieta started their promotion celebrations after the final whistle.
Lija A – M. Camilleri, T. Fleri Soler (L. Micallef), C. Giordemaina, D. Vukovic, D. Scerri, E. Briffa (G. Calabretta), M. Potezika, J.P. Scerri, B. Antignolo (M. Fleri Soler), K. Aleksandrov, A. Adeshina Ige.
Pieta H – D. Cassar, C. Attard, O. Anonam, C. Grech, J. Pisani (A. Spiteri), Q. Refalo, J. Zarate, K. Cesare (J. Ani), R. Costa Varella, T. Agius (M. Borg), R. Kooh Sohna
Referee – Jude Amin Utulu