Rabat net KO to make it a clean sweep

Season 2005/06 will go down as a memorable one for Rabat Depiro after they chalked up a clean sweep of honours.

After their success in the Super Cup, Challenge Cup and League, Rabat yesterday clinched the Knock-Out Trophy after a hard-fought encounter with Sliema Hotsticks.

Rabat began the game in attacking fashion as Jason Vella put a good ball into the dee but Jonathan Seychell failed to make contact.

After six minutes, Sliema pushed forward on the counter and won a short corner which Ray Bezzina duly fired into the net to put Sliema in the lead.

There was an immediate reaction from Rabat but Sliema's crowded midfield was giving them problems.

Robert Aquilina put Josef Antonelli through but his conclusion finished wide. Two consecutive short corners failed to produce anything but after 22 minutes another short corner move saw Rabat equalise as Branko Radojevic blasted in an unstoppable hit.

Rabat pressed home their superiority and six minutes later, they forged ahead. Once again it was Radojevic who scored after being set up by Kevin Micallef. The first half ended with Rabat 2-1 ahead.

The second half opened with Rabat determined to secure their victory but again their plans were compounded as Sliema forced two consecutive short corners. From the second one, Bezzina hit his second goal and equalised.

Sliema's joy was shortlived as barely three minutes later, Radojevic scored again, albeit with the aid of a decisive deflection, and edged Rabat 3-2 ahead.

This goal hit Sliema's morale hard with Rabat continuing to create the better chances. Vella fired wide and Radojevic almost scored a fourth goal but his hit was stopped on the line by Ramon Caruana Smith.

Luke Mallia saved well from Seychell and after 29 minutes, the Sliema goalkeeper kept his team in the game with an excellent save from a Chris Bugeja penalty stroke.

The final whistle confirmed Rabat's third consecutive double victory and above all, a complete monopoly on this year's honours.