Birkirkara failed to take maximum points against bottom side Rabat Ajax from this bruising encounter they dominated for long stretches and were eventually overtaken by Valletta at the top of the standings.

The match was played under continuous showers and strong winds and neither side could establish much control on a wet pitch.

The Stripes had to come from behind to shrug off an early setback, conceding Rabat’s goal after four minutes play, but then twice surrendered the lead to inferior but determined opponents and finally had to settle for a draw.

Rabat were without the injured central defender Clive Brincat and deployed David Azzopardi as left back with Patrick Borg at the centre. They also had Spanish forward Hose Armaro Negrin making his debut after settling his transfer from Melita some days before and he immediately opened his account for the new club, scoring Rabat’s equaliser in the dying minutes.

The Magpies could not have dreamt of a better start as they forged ahead after only four minutes. Manuel Fuster gave Ini Atkpan, deputising for Gauci in the Birkirkara goal, little chance with a drilling shot at the top corner from outside the area.

Birkirkara were stunned but went straight down with their business, pinning Rabat inside their own half. Rabat defended in numbers, attacking on the counter and on ten minutes, Fuster picked up a clearance on the edge of the area but this time the way for goal was blocked and his whot went wide.

Birkirkara lacked the slightest hint of penetration, despite raking long balls inside the Rabat half. They were made to shoot from a distance, even because of the wet and windy conditions. Camenzuli, Fenech and Hernandez sent efforts off target until past the half hour, Jhonnattan caused havoc inside the Rabat area as he went past two opponents but his shot was repelled by keeper Mintoff.

Birkirkara showed more attacking intent in the second half as they tried to exploit their aerial strength through the advancing Vukanac and Mendoza. The latter skied the ball as he ran in to connect to Vukanac’s cross from the right soon after the restart.

The Stripes levelled matters on the hour as Mifsud Triganza went inside the Rabat area and when faced with the keeper, he played the ball wide for the unmarked Ryan Scicluna to knock it in.

Nine minutes later, Birkirkara scored their second. Jhonnattan ran down the right and beat keeper Mintoff with a low diagonal shot to put the Stripes in front for the first tiem in the match.

Mifsud Triganza missed a sitter on 72 minutes, failing to connect on Jhonnattan’s cross,when standin free in front of goal.

And as Birkirkara were enjoying most of the possession and might have thought that they had the match wrapped up, Rabat struck a quarter of an hour from time. Azzopardi’s sailing free kick from the right was back headed by Justin Felice at the far top corner, leaving keeper Atkpan stranded.

Rabat’s joy was short lived as Birkirkara again punished them on 83 minutes. On susbstitute Zerafa’s cross, Mifsud Triganza’s shot was footed by the keeper, only as far as Nikola Vukanac who made no mistake from close range.

Birkirkara put in defender Pereira for Scicluna after that as Rabat kept fighting gamely, although tgheir confidence was severly dented.

With one minute remaining, Hose Negrin took a through ball in his stride, advanced from the middle and beat the Birkirkara keeper with a low drive, to draw level.

Birkirkara’s late frantic efforts yielded no rewards though. Mifsud Triganza shot over deep into four minutes of added time with the last chance of the match.

Rabat’s first league victory has been prolonged but the regrets are all for Birkirkara for surrendering their primacy to Valletta.

Rabat A: S. Mintoff, I. Carapic, J. Caruana, J. Felice, H. Negrin, M. Fuster, D. Falzon, P. Borg (G. Gesualdi), Y. Cauchi (W. Borg), D. Azzopardi, C. Gauci (C. Vella)

Birkirkara: I. Atkpan, R. Scicluna (R. Pereira), N. Vukanac, A. Mendoza, Y. Hernandez (J. Zerafa), Z. Muscat, P. Fenech, R. Muscat, Jhonnattan, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, R. Camenzuli (K. Zammit)

Referee:   M. Apap

Asst.refs:  P. Apap, A. Borg Cardona

4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers:  M. Fuster 4, R. Scicluna 60, Jhonnattan 69, J. Felice 76, N. Vukanac 83, H. Negrin 89

Yellow cards: Jhonnattan

Player of the match: Jhonnattan (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3:  1. Jhonnattan  2. D. Azzopardi  3. P. Fenech