Rabat A.-Naxxar L. 1-2
Rabat A: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, D. Falzon, D. Palaez, P. Borg (M. Licari), C. Gauci, A. Spiteri, D. Pendas, I. Carapic, M. Avila Perez
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, M. Briffa, A. Buhagiar, G. Ribeiro, A. Decesare, M. Del Negro (V. Bellia), P. Doffo, D. Falzon (J. Ani), T. Lopez, Evaldo, O. Zongo
Referee: S. Spiteri
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, L. Portelli
4th official: A. Arciola
Scorers: D. Pendas 23, G. Ribeiro 53, A. Buhagiar 61
Yellow cards: P. Doffo, A. Smeir, M. Briffa, D. Falzon
Player of the match: D. Falzon (Naxxar L)
TMI top three: 1. D. Falzon 2. P. Doffo 3. D. Pendas
Naxxar scored twice within eight minutes in a blistering opening spell of the second half to erase a one-goal deficit and beat bottom side Rabat Ajax.
Defender Angus Buhagiar, returning from suspension to replace Cutajar, had a good game and thrived with his overlaps down the right flank. He even scored his side’s winner, soon after Ribeiro Gilmar had restored equilibrium, when Naxxar were enjoying their best patch in the second half.
This win follows two consecutive defeats by Valletta and Mosta and lifts the Lions into sixth place in the standings.
Meanwhile, Rabat’s disastrous start of the season continues with a seventh consecutive defeat.
Embarassing blunders at the back, lack of creativity in midfield and a non-existant attack were again evident in the Rabat side that looks unable to lift the gloom that has settled into the side.
Although taking the lead through their most reliant player Diego Pendas in the first half, the Magpies failed to improve on that and were outplayed and outmuscled by their opponents in the second half. Rabat keeper Pavel Velimirovic saved his side from further derision as Naxxar could have won by more goals.
Naxxar had put Rabat under some pressure in the first quarter of this contest and had gone close after only three minutes. After a good run down the right, Briffa left the ball for Del Negro to cross. Zongo’s free header clipped the upright.
When Buhagiar delivered another inviting cross from the right, the unmarked Gilmar hit feebly and the Rabat keeper saved on the ground.
Rabat did not buckle and gradually started to find some rhythm. Naxxar’s keeper Azzopardi rushed off his line to block at Avila Perez’ feet, before Diego Pendas won a foul outside the Naxxar area on the left on 23 minutes. He took the free kick himself, curling the ball exquisitleyvpast keeper Azzopardi at the far post.
Naxxar were unable to react and Rabat again went close with another Pendas rasping shot narrowly missing the target following a Pelaez free kick.
Five minutes befor the break, Daren Falzon gave the Naxxar fans the illusion of goal as he hit the side netting with his direct free kick.
Naxxar again put in Victor Bellia for Del Negro at halftime and immediately looked a transformed side, making progress inside the Rabat half with more zip and accuracy.
They threatened an equaliser on 49 minutes, Doffo forcing the Rabat keeper to tip his long range fierce freekick against the bar. Hardly four minutes later, Falzon back-heeled pass found Gilmar Ribeiro ummarked inside the Rabat area to comfortably beat Velimirovic and draw level.
Past the hour, Naxxar even went in front. Daren Falzon’s cross from the left allowed Angus Buhagiar to breeze past a static Azzopardi and Carapic to beat keeper Velimirovic. It was a sloppy goal for Rabat to concede and the Magpies crumpled almost visibly after that, resigned to another defeat and another week searching for the first points.
Gilmar should have wrapped up the match for Naxxar two minutes later when he advanced between two opponents inside the Rabat area but, with only the keeper to beat, he put his effort wide.
Naxxar imposed themselves on Rabat and Zongo played the ball in open space for Gilmar to advance but was thwarted by the Rabat keeper who turned the ball into a corner. And six minutes from time, Briffa went inside the Rabat area with alarming ease and after grounding Azzopardi and Falzon, was blocked by keeper Velimirovic.
In the late stages, Pendas went close with another direct free kick of his that missed the target, but Rabat knew that by then, their time was up.