Vittoriosa S-Rabat A. 1-0
Vittoriosa: J. Vella, M. Buttigieg (C. Brincat 76’), G. Martin (M. Barbara 62’ ), O.Guerrero, C. Spiteri, M. Camilleri, M. Tevrel, R. Dos Santos, M. Pereira, J.F. Aguiar (A. Spiteri 56’), S. Arab
Rabat: P. Velimirovic, D. Falzon, S. Gauci, J. Tonna (M. Avila Perez 45’), I. Carapic, P.Borg, D. Carillo Pendas, D. Pelaez Bellido, J. Bajada (R. Micallef 58’), A. Smeir, D. Azzopardi
Scorers: Oscar Guerrero 9’
Yellow Cards: Carillo Pendas 45min (R), Guerrero 45min (V), M. Teurel 83min (V)C. Spiteri 83min (V), R. Micallef 84min (R), P. Borg 89min (R)
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella
BOV Man of the Match: Marcelo Pereira (V)
A goal from Oscar Guererro after nine minutes gave Vittoriosa Stars three precious points in a direct encounter from the lower part of the table against Rabat Ajax.
It was the Stars’ second consecutive victory. Vittoriosa could have won the match by a bigger margin but failed to take their opportunities and risked to lose maximum points if it wasn’t for goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella who made numerous saves in the last quarter hour.
Rabat Ajax finished again empty handed for the sixth consecutive time but after 75 minutes of dull moments, they had numerous occasions in the last 15 minutes.
Vittoriosa had Jean Matthias Vella replacing the injured Sean Cini and Gilbert Martin starting instead of Mark Barbara. On the other hand Rabat had Josef Tonna winning the starting spot ahead of Moises Avila Perez while Omar Smeir recovered from a long injury and returned in the starting line-up after several months.
Vittoriosa Stars were surely the better team and deserved more goals in their bag but failed to capitalise in front of goal.
Marcelo Pereira was a continious threat to the Ajax defence but the lack of sharpness kept Rabat in the game. Steve Damato’s team creataed no danger in the first half with Jean Matthias Vella having a relaxed first 45 minutes.
Vittoriosa had their first chance on the third minute when Marcelo Pereira took advantage from a mistake by Shaun Gauci, dribbled past Velimirovic but his shot was saved on the line the same Gauci.
Oliver Spiteri’s team took the lead on the 9th minute when Pereira recieved a good long ball, advanced in the penalty area and passed to Oscar Dario Guerrero who made no mistake.
The Reds continued to be the better team and on the 24th minute an acrobatic shot by Gilbert Martin was turned into a corner by Velimirovic. Three minutes later a clever pass by Aguiar found Pereira but the latter’s shot finished wide.
Vittoriosa had another opportunity on the 31st minute when from a corner by Teurel, Velimirovic didn’t grab the ball but Pereira fired over the bar from an ideal position. Three minutes later Guerrero passed to Pereira but again Velimirovic tipped into a corner.
Rabat started to threaten Vella’s post when a shot from Carillo Pendas finished whiskers from the bar.
Vittoriosa had another chance on the 68th minute when a shot on the turn by Teurel was deflected into a corner.
Rabat created the most dangerous occasion on the 77th minute when first Vella saved on the line a header from Patrick Borg and from the subsequent move, Vella again saved his team when Smeir won a 50-50 challenge but his low shot was tipped into a corner.
Rabat again were dangerous on the 84th minute when Vella was caught off-guard but managed to tip into a corner the shot from susbstitute Ryan Micallef.
Rabat could have equalised in the 94th minute when Adam Smeir recieved a good ball from Patrick Borg but his first time shot was again tipped by Vella.
From the subsequent corner kick, Avila Perez rose above his team-mates but his header finished off target.