Sliema W 4

Rabat 1

Sliema registered their first win from three games after losing to newcomers St Patrick and drawing against Birkirkara, while newly-promoted Rabat have only one point from three games. They seem to find the going hard in Section A.

The first action came from Sliema after only seven minutes when Mike Vella served Axel Xuereb with a through ball in the area and Rabat keeper Andrew Zammit denied him with a diving save.

Rabat then mounted two actions. Brandon Bonavia served Nathan Borg with a through ball and Sliema keeper Jovin Ebejer turned the ball to a corner from his long-range shot and Christian Schembri, after beating a defender, served Nicolai Attard with a through ball but he drove over the bar from outside the area.

Sliema forged ahead in the 20th minute. Aaron Chircop saw Zammit turning his shot to a corner from which Paolo Dandolo entered the area and scored with a hard grounder. 

In another Sliema attack, Chircop released Dandolo on the left flank who then crossed to Justin Pisani and the latter drove slightly over the bar from outside the area. 

Rabat equalised in the 37th minute. Jamie Muscat served Christian Schembri with a through ball who was tripped in the area. Etienne Scicluna made no mistake from the spot. 

Six minutes after the restart Zammit came to his side’s rescue once again when he turned to a corner a hard drive from outside the area by Mike Vella. 

Sliema re-established their one-goal lead in the 52nd minute as Aquilina served Chircop with a cross from the right and he scored with a rising shot from outside the area. 

Four minutes later the score became 3-1 when Chircop served Dandolo in the area and he scored with a low diagonal shot.

Two minutes later, the same player profited from a defensive indecision and after entering the area he scored with a hard grounder obtaining a hat-trick and his side’s fourth goal.

Near the end, Aquilina served substitute Clive Psaila with a square pass and Rabat substitute ‘keeper Andrew Muscat saved his shot from outside the area in two attempts.

Referee: Lorry Sammut 

Player of the match: Paolo Dandolo (Sliema W)