Valletta 1 Rabat A. 1
A fighting Rabat side yesterday upset champions Valletta to earn a deserved point.
The 1-1 draw was perhaps the biggest surprise so far this season, but it must be said straightaway that the Magpies richly deserved to share the spoils.
It was certainly a very prestigious result for Silvio Vella’s side which fought gamely from start to finish.
City coach Mark Miller opted to leave Roderick Briffa on the bench, pushing Ryan Fenech into the starting line-up.
Rabat had to field a depleted side as they were missing the services of Smeir, Micallef, Felice and Schembri.
In the Valletta side, something unusual this year was that Sean Bajada became the heir of former City star Gilbert Agius – he was wearing the famous No. 7 jersey for the first time.
Rabat surprised everyone with their great determination and organisation at the back.
As was expected, they had to face the onslaught for most of the time, but they did it admirably and even found time to move upfield and provided Valletta with a few anxious moments.
On their part the citizens had pretty little to show despite all their possession.
Rabat goalie Sean Mintoff was never seriously tested as most of City’s efforts were off target.
For Rabat, none played better than former City midfielder Heiner Backhaus of Germany. He was to be seen everywhere and never stopped running. It was certainly a most valid contribution by the German who must be considered as a tower of strength in this Rabat side.
At the end, Rabat became only the second team to take points off the citizens after the draw against Birkirkara.
Rabat were the first to threaten when Maral Fuster crossed low for Clifford Gauci to fire a good shot which Bartolo had to turn to corner with some difficulty.
Valletta replied on the 10th minute with a Ryan Fenech low shot hitting the side rigging.
Two minutes later, Bajada’s bad pass to Caruana was intercepted by Asyrauskas who advanced into the area only to shoot straight at Bartolo.
At the other end, Steve Borg had a fierce shot blocked to a corner by Carapic’s extended foot.
After 28 minutes, Denni was through on the right; he crossed dangerously into the Rabat small box, but a defender managed to clear the ball, which went to Michael Mifsud. The latter’s shot was however, blocked to a corner.
City appealed for a penalty when Mifsud appeared to have been pushed by Dylan Falzon when on the point of shooting at goal, but the official, close to the action, waved play on.
Valletta broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half. It was Gabriel Da Silva who entered the area on the left flank to hit home from an angle.
The same player almost added a second soon after, hitting just wide following a pass from Bajada.
City’s joy was shortlived as Rabat equalised on the 57th minute. From a Backhaus cornerkick, it was Carapic who headed into the net.
On 67 minutes, Valletta missed a sitter when off a Fenech cross, Denni was completely unmarked, but the Brazilian shot well wide of the target.
Valletta continued to press hard on the Rabat goal and they had two successive shots by Barbosa and Gabriel Da Silva being blocked.
Valletta had another chance to score on the 88th minute but Barbosa lifted his freekick well over the bar. And in added time Michael Mifsud tried his luck from 20 metres, but it also went over.
Before the end, it was goalie Bartolo who saved City’s fort as he rushed out of his charge to clear at the feet of Wayne Borg.