Vittoriosa S.-Rabat A. 3-1

Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat, O. Sidibe, L. Torri (C. Sammut), J.F. Aguiar, G. Martin, O. Guerrero, Samir Arab (F. Santaguida), M. Pereira, R. Mifsud, M. Buttigieg, M. Camilleri (C. Spiteri)

Rabat A: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi (P. Borg), D. Falzon, I, Carapic, J. Caruana, J. Bajada, S. Oproiescu, R. Micallef, M. Licari (W. Borg), D. Pendas

Referee:  M. Spiteri

Asst.refs:  E. Spiteri, A. Borg Cardona

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers:  O. Guerrero 22, J. Bajada 53, J. F. Aguiar 61, M. Pereira 79

Yellow cards: L. Torri, O. Guerrero

Player of the match: O. Guerrero (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top 3:  1. O. Guerrero  2. J. F. Aguiar 3. D. Pendas

Brazilian Oscar Guerrero propelled Vittoriosa Stars to their first win in the Relegation Pool against bottom side Rabat Ajax, as the two weakest teams in the BoV Premier clashed on an afternoon of little excitement at the Hibernians stadium. This win left the Stars still nurturing hope of avoiding relegation and Rabat rock bottom and almost out already.

For Rabat, who collected only two points from their last nine matches, this was the second defeat they sufferred against same opponents within five weeks and coach Steve D’Amato, now under heavy pressure to rescue his side, will be getting more sleepless nights.

Rabat were briefly in it after Jonthan Bajada’s equaliser but two Vittoriosa goals removed them from contention.

Superior to their opponents in all departments, Vittoriosa deserved their win and after conceding Rabat’s equaliser early in the second half, they were physically and menatlly strong enough to react and score twice in the last half hour to take three precious points.

Both teams were practically at full strength although Vittoriosa had Arraguado missing but Aguiar played instead. He supported Vittoriosa’s three offensive players, Marcelo Pereira, Oscar Guerrero and Gilbert Martin as  coach Oliver Spiteri went all out against the Premier League’s most porous defence.

 Rabat’s defender David Azzopardi was forced to leave the pitch after only 12 minutes with a groin injury, to be replaced by Patrick Borg. Dylan Falzon moved as wide left back. And immediately after, their backline went through some anxious moments. Torri pounced on a loose ball that bounced inside the Rabat area, but he failed to conclude when opposed by keeper Velimirovic and two Rabat defenders.

An Aguiar shot from a distance, after 20 minutes, was repelled by the Rabat keeper. But two minutes later, Vittoriosa made the breakthrough. Pereira advanced down the right and delivered a low testing cross for Oscar Guerrero to dart in through the middle and side step the ball past the helpless keeper.

Rabat struggled to make progress inside the Vittoriosa area although their forward Ryan Micallef caused embarassment to central defenders Sidibe and Araba whenever in possession. Micallef hit Pendas cross straight on keeper Muscat in the opening stages and a Pendas free kick past the half hour brushed the upright.

Vittoriosa threatened again before the break. Guerrero dribbled his way inside the Rabat area on Pereira’s p0ass but shot against the side netting.

Only one goal down, Rabat were still in the game by halftime. They restored parity, against the run of play, eight minutes after the restart, as the Vittoriosa defence was caught on the hop on a Pendas cross from the left which they failed to clear and Jonathan Bajada stabbed the ball in from close range.

The goal should have given Rabat some relief but any brief hopes soon evaporated as Vittoriosa hit back to score twice in the last half hour to consolidate a deserved win.

Past the hour, Pereira set Guerrero down the left, cutting back from the byeline for the advancing Felipe Aguiar who slotted the ball past the helpless Velimirovic.

Pereira fluffed another good opportunity on 74 minutes as he miskicked Guerrero’s cross in front of a gaping Rabat goal. But there was no denying Vittoriosa ten minutes from the end. Guerrero swivelled and turned in open space, reaping havoc inside the Rabat defence, back-heeled the ball to Martin who laid it in the path of Marcelo Pereiera to shoot past keeper Velimirovic and secure the points.