Naxxar L.-Rabat A. 3-0

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, V. Bellia (J. Debono), A. Buhagiar, RG Cassar, G. Da Silva Ribeiro (D. Falzon), A. Decesare, M. del Negro, P. Doffo (D. A. Reano), T. Lopez de Souza, A. Rocha da Silva, T. Scerri.

Rabat Ajax: R. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, D. Falzon, I. Carapic, J. Caruana, J. Bajada, D. Pelaez Bellido, D. Carrillo Pendas, M. Licari (J. Azzopardi), A. Azzopardi.

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst refs: Y. Spiteri, D. Castillo

4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: T. Scerri, A. Rocha da Silva, J. Debono

Yellow card: V. Bellia

Red cards: A. Azzopardi, R. Velimirovic

Player of the match: T. Scerri

TMI Top 3: 1. T. Scerri, 2. V. Bellia, 3. A. Rocha da Silva

Attendance: 614

Naxxar Lions registered a third victory on the trot yesterday evening as they beat nine-man Rabat 3-0.

It was a deserved victory for the Lions which, however, only matured in the second half when Rabat ended up in nine men following a second dismissal.

In fact, the Ajax had Aidan Azzopardi sent off in the first half and goalie Velimirovic dismissed in the second.

In such condition, Rabat could never hope of fighting back to get something positive from this encounter.

After this defeat, Ajax remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the standings while Naxxar have consolidated their fifth place, temporarily six points off Sliema who occupy fourth place.

Play was more or less balanced in the opening 30 minutes and it could also be said that Rabat had the better chances, but after suffering the goal and ending in 10 men after Aidan Azzopardi was dismissed, they had to play second fiddle.

Yet, despite playing with a man fewer, Rabat still shared the exchanges with the Lions for whom veteran midfielder Victor Bellia was again outstanding.

The Lions are now a mature side as coach Winston Muscat has turned the side into a Top Six challenger instead of battling to avoid relegation. It is a delight to watch this team playing, with all the players showing commitment and determination from start to finish.

But it was only in the second half, after scoring an early second goal and also after Rabat ended up in nine men after the dismissal of goalie Velimirovic that they really took the game under their control, scoring a late third goal to seal the issue.

It was also a confirmation of the return to scoring form of striker Terence Scerri who has now scored in four consecutive matches.

In the seventh minute, Rabat threatened to take the lead. From a Jonathan Bajada cross, it was veteran Malcolm Licari who saw his first timer being saved by Naxxar goalie Julian Azzopardi.

Naxxar replied through Ribeiro da Silva whose shot hit the side rigging. Soon after, Pablo Doffo was injured and had to be hospitalised. He was replaced by David Alejandro Reano, a newcomer among the team’s ranks.

On 15 minutes, Rabat again were close through a Daniel Pelaez freekick that just missed the target.

Naxxar took the lead on the 18th minute when Rabat defender Dylan Falzon failed to clear the ball and lost it to Terence Scerri who made no mistake from close in.

In the 25th minute, it was Naxxar goalie Azzopardi who palmed the ball out with difficulty off a Pelaez angled freekick which seemed destined for the back of the net.

Four minutes later, from a Bajada good cross, Aidan Azzopardi mishit the ball in front of goal. Soon after, Rabat finished in 10 men when Aidan Azzopardi was shown a direct red card for tripping Victor Bellia from behind – it seemed to be it was a rather harsh decision.

From another Pelaez freekick, it was Ivan Carapic who saw his header going just wide.

At the other end, from an Angus Buhagiar cross, Rocha da Silva headed wide. Three minutes from the interval, a da Silva Ribeiro cross was deviated onto the side netting by Carapic.

Soon after the second half started, Naxxar added a second goal to their tally. It was Andre Rocha da Silva who hit home a fine volley on the turn from the edge of the area which had Rabat goalie Velimirovic beaten all ends up.

In the 55th minute, Rabat ended in nine men when goalie Velimirovic was shown a red card after flooring Scerri outside the area. Rabat protested hotly with referee Farrugia Cann who obviously stood by his decision. The Montenegrin’s place was taken by Jonathan Azzopardi with Malcolm Licari having to go out.

Naxxar now took command but the match lost much of its interest even if on the 71st minute, Rabat’s Carrillo Pendas had an overhead kick saved by Naxxar goalie Azzopardi.

The Lions sealed their victory with a third goal on the 88th minute when Rocha da Silva set substitute Jurgen Debono in the area and the latter beat Rabat’s Azzopardi with a low shot.