Naxxar L.-Rabat A. 2-0
Naxxar L.: J. Azzopardi, R. Bakare, V. Bellia (J. Debono), A. Buhagiar, Da Silva Ribeiro, A. Decesare, K. Drago, D. Falzon (T. Scerri), D. Reano, A. Rocha da Silva, F. Stojanovic (M. Vignjevic).
Rabat A.: P. Velimirovic, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, Z. Tanti, I. Carapic, J. Caruana, J. Bajada (P. Borg), W. Borg (C. Vella), M. Licari, D. Carrillo Pendas, A. Azzopardi (L. Cauchi).
Referee: M. Borg
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, R. Vella
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: A. Buhagiar, V. Bellia
Yellow cards: J. Caruana, J. Bajada, Z. Tanti, G. Da Silva Ribeiro, D. Carrillo Pendas, K. Drago, D. Azzopardi, C. Vella,
Red cards:
Player of the match: F. Stojanovic
TMI Top 3: 1. F. Stojanovic, 2. A. Buhagiar, 3. P. Velimirovic
Naxxar Lions made a bold step forward towards safety as they beat bottom placed Rabat Ajax by two clear goals.
After this defeat, Rabat were definitely relegated, leaving the other five teams fighting it out between them to try to avoid the Drop.
It was a richly deserved win for the Lions, even if they had to wait till the second half to score their goals which assured them of the three points.
In the first half, play revolved mainly in midfield but Naxxar held an edge over their opponents.
The returning Angus Buhagiar on the right flank and midfielder Stojanovic worked hard to get their team-mates going, but Rabat defended well with goalie Velimirovic and Carapic in inspiring form in the heart of the defence.
Rabat had to win to keep their slim hopes alive. They played cautiously and operated in counterattacks which, however, never spelt danger for goalie Azzopardi.
The match followed the same pattern in the second half with the Lions showing more insistence on attack. In fact, it was no surprise that they eventually took the lead.
After the goal, Naxxar remained in command and they went on to ascertain their win with a second goal.
The first action arrived on the 11th minute when from an Angus Buhagiar cross, Falzon saw his effort blocked. The ball ran out to Buhagiar, but his cross this time went wide.
Soon after, at the other end, it was Rabat who threatened through a David Azzopardi cross-shot, but the ball also went wide.
In the 15th minute, from another Buhagiar cross, Stojanovic saw his dipper going over the bar.
A minute later, it was Carrillo Pendas and Borg who tested the Naxxar goal. The first had his effort going just over while in the second instance, Azzopardi dived to his left to save.
On 24 minutes, it was Bakare who had a long distance shot saved by the diving Velimirovic.
In the 41st Bellia had a shot well saved by Velimirovic and the Rabat goalie was again in action soon after, palming the ball away off a Daren Falzon effort.
In first half added time, it was Rocha da Silva who set Da Silva Ribeiro in the Rabat area, but Velimirovic rushed out of his charge to block the latter’s incursion.
Soon after the start of the second half, from a Stojanovic cornerkick, a Rocha da Silva header was well saved by the excellent Velimirovic.
On the 53rd minute a Daren Falzon low shot was too weak to trouble Velimirovic.
Naxxar finally took the lead on the 55th minute. It was Rocha da Silva who set Angus Buhagiar on the right and the latter beat Velimirovic with a low angled shot.
The Lions maintained the initiative and in the 67th minute, from a Buhagiar cross, it was Falzon who went close with a header that went just wide.
Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro missed a good chance to score a second for Naxxar as he fired well over the bar after a fine pass from substitute Vignjevic, but a minute later, it was veteran Victor Bellia who beat Velimirovic for Naxxar’s second.
It was a victory which the Lions badly needed to lift their morale in view of the forthcoming commitments.