Mosta 2

Rabat 0

Mosta were the better outfit in this game and fully deserved the verdict. They managed to finish in the runner-up spot on 51 points from 21 games and eventual qualification for the Inter-Section Knock Out Competition. Rabat are in sixth place on 32 points from 21 games.

Rabat keeper Jamie Azzopardi was in brilliant form and he saved his side from a much heavier defeat with very good saves and timely interceptions.

The first action was createdby Rabat as Luke Bartolo released Luca Camilleri on the left flank and Mosta keeper Luke Chircop neutralised the ball following his cross-shot.

In Mosta’s first action in the 6th minute they were denied by the woodwork. Aaron Sammut served Sheldon Vassallo with a cross from the right flank, the ball hit the upright from his header in the area and finished in Azzopardi’s waiting hands. From the same action, Azzopardi served Nicholas Ciantar from the drop-kick who then served Andrea Mallia in the area and Chircop foiled him as he dived at his feet and smothered the ball.

Minutes later, Tyler Grech was fouled outside the area and from the free kick by Mallia, Chircop was forced to dive and turn the ball to a corner. 

In a reaction by Mosta Neil Amaira served Daniel Mifsud with a short pass from a free kick and the ball was blocked from his shot. Zachary Farrugia then served Sheldon Vassallo with a through ball and his shot missed the bar by inches. 

Mosta opened the score three minutes after the restart as they won a corner kick on the right flank which was well-taken by Sammut and in the melee that ensued in the area, Mifsud scored with a hard drive.

In another action by Mosta, Sammut served Vassallo in the area and after a defender cleared the ball to a corner, from Sammut’s flag kick, a shot by Sean Chetcuti was again cleared away.

Mosta created all the actions up to the final whistle. Sammut served Mifsud with a though ball in the area and his lobbed ball missed the bar by inches.

Substitute Zachary Chircop served Mifsud in the area and Azzopardi denied him with a fine diving save and he did likewise minutes later on a free kick shot by Karl Micallef after Chircop was fouled on the right flank.

Azzopardi the came to his side’s rescue once again when he saved a close-range header by Matthew De Vita following a Sammut flag kick.

A minute before the end of normal time, Mosta doubled the score as Sean Chetcuti served Sammut with a through ball: the latter entered the area after beating two defenders and scored with a hard rising shot.

Referee: Daniel Farrugia 

Player of the match: Jamie Azzopardi (Rabat)