RABAT AJAX-        3

MOSTA-                2

Rabat A: S. Mintoff, G. Gesualdi, I. Carapic,  M. Fuster, J. Felice (P. Borg), J. Armaro Negrin (C. Vella), D. Falzon, C. Brincat, D. Pendas, D. Azzopardi, C. Gauci

Mosta: J. Farrugia, G. Sammut, B. Agius, T. Farrugia (J. Bajada), O. Chiemeka, R. Grech (K. Zammit), K. Magro, M. Micallef, D. Mitev, F. Vignaroli, B. Mbonu (O.Ugochuywku)

Referee:  M. Apap

Asst.refs:  E. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official: M. Spiteri

Scorers: J. Negrin 44 pen, 57, 63 pen, D. Mitev 80, 90 pen

Yellow cards: B. Agius, C. Brincat, O. Chimeka, K. Magro, M. Micallef

Player of the match: J. Negrin (Rabat A)

TMI top 3: 1.J. Negrin  2. C. Gauci  3. D. Mitev

Rabat Ajax’ first league win after 21 matches into the season is just reward for their improvement in recent matches and instils some confidence for the second phase as they face the relegation battle one point behind Melita and two adrift of Hamrun Spartans if the latter lose against Birkirkara tomorrow.

Rabat’s hero was Jose Armaro Negrin who scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, to take his tally to 12 goals lareday this season. Mosta’s sluggishness after a promising start did not help them to get themselves back into the game after falling three goals behind, although two late Mitev goals made the final score look more respectable.

Mosta, already sure of a place in the Championship Pool, might have been less motivated yesterday. Yet they were the more energetic side in the early stages and had gone close on three occasions within the first ten minutes, despite having influential midfielder Carlos Campagnoli suspended.

Showing territorial supremacy, on Mbono’s low pass from the left, Mitev played the dummy to create space for Magro to shoot low but the outstretched Rabat keeper Mintoff saved.

Mosta had another Magro effort blocked as Grech shot the rebound wide. They could have even taken the lead after eight minutes had Mitev not clipped the upright with a curling shot from the edge of the area on Sammut’s square pass.

Rabat, who were in dire need of points, needed to put more effort  into the game. Assorted injuries, allied to a lack of investment in new players, left Rabat coach Silvio Vella  with limited options and a worryingly weak bench. With Gaetan  Gesualdi replacing Joseph Caruana from the start, the Magpies suffered a setback midway through the half when Felice limped off after falling akwardly, to be substituted by Patrick Borg, with Diego Pendas moving in a more central position behind main striker Jose Negrin

As Mosta faded out, Rabat upped the tempo and towards the half hour, Pendas delivered a testing cross inside the Mosta area. Negrin connected well but was blocked by keeper Farrugia into a corner.

Negrin headed a Gesualdi deep cross staright in the hands of the Mosta keeper and on 36 minutes Vignaroli almost committed an own goal as he headed backwards a Rabat cross. On 40 minutes, Negrin chested an Azzopardi pass, turned well and shot low. Keeper Farrugia footed the ball into a corner.

But one minute before the break, Rabat won a penalty when Chiemeka fouled Negrin inside the area and the Spanish forward steadied himself to score from the spot and give his side the lead.

Mosta’s Tyrone Farrugia also suffered an injury before halftime and did not make an appearance in the second period.

Rabat whipped in two dangerous Pendas free kicks from the left, which the Mosta defence blocked well after the restart, before they doubled their lead on 57 minutes. Jose Negrin advanced through the middle, taking the ball in his stride on Pendas’ pass, to beat the Mosta keeper with a low drive.

Six minutes later. Rabat were awarded a second penalty, this time for Magro’s hand block on Fuster’s shot inside the area. Negrin tucked it away to complete his hat trick and secure the points for the Magpies.

Mosta pulled a  goal back with ten minutes remaining, Danail Mitev placing his direct free kick behind keeper Mintoff from outside the area. And Mosta’s second goal from another Danail Mitev penalty, after Gesualdi floored Agius inside the area on the stroke of full time, caused some anxiety for Rabat  during the final added minutes.