Dingli S 4

Rabat A 0

Dingli Swallows finished their first round committments in style demolishing neighbours and rivals Rabat Ajax 4-0.

It was a harsh result on lowly Rabat, with Dingli scoring a three-goal burst in the last fifteen minutes of the match.

Dingli showed the better ideas in the first half, taking the lead through an early penalty.

However Rabat staged a very good reaction especially in the second half in which they dominated their opponents.

Rabat’s superiority in the second half was not enough as they once again failed miserably in fron of goal. Luck was not on their part either as hit the crossbar.

In the dying minutes Dingli took the match by storm after scoring their second goal, with Rabat throwing in the towel, to suffer a humiliating derby defeat.

Anywanna and Chris Ciappara were Dingli’s heroes as scored a brace each, with Rabat finishing the match with ten players after their goalkeeper Azzopardi was sent off for dissent on 89 minutes.

Dingli had a dream start forging ahead on eight minutes. Josef Tonna’s back header involuntarily served Mark Galea who darted inside the Rabat penalty area only to be floored by the onrushing goalkeeper. From the resultant penalty Anywanna made no mistake.

Rabat tried to get back in the match but they failed to be productive up front. Smeir missed the target and a Caruana header was well saved by Farrugia.

Farrugia’s best save came on 32 minutes when saved a point blank shot from Adrian Mifsud after a good run by Adam Smeir.

On their part Dingli were unlucky minutes earlier when a Clint Caruana scorcher hit the upright with Mark Galea unable to tap in the rebound.

In the second half Rabat Ajax dominated the first twenty five minutes missing a couple of good scoring chances and with the Dingli goalkeeper always on the alert.

Rabat’s best chance came on 54 minutes when a Caruana glorious header was tipped by the goalkeeper with the ball finishing off against the crossbar.

On 70 minutes Dingli broke Rabat’s supremacy with an Anywanna effort from the edge of the are. Three minutes later substitute Chris Ciappara passed towards the unmarked Anywanna who easily beat Azzopardi with a low shot.

This was a deadly blow for Rabat as they were now at sixes and sevens under Dingli’s fast breaks.

On 83 minutes Failla passed to Anywanna who was floored by Tonna for an obvious penalty. However Anywanna was not at his best from the spot as he failed to beat Azzopardi who stopped his weak effort.

But it was not over yet for Rabat as they suffered the third goal three minutes later when Chris Ciappara beautifully chipped from the edge of the area past a bewildered Azzopardi.

The same Rabat goalkeeper was sent off for dissent on 89 minutes, with defender Tonna going in goal for the last few minutes as Rabat had effected all their substitutions.

There was still time for another Dingli goal, on 93 minutes when Chris Ciappara was put through by Failla and the Dingli striker easily beat defender Tonna from an acute angle.