Rabat secure seventh title in a row

Sliema Hotsticks 1
Rabat Depiro 3

The draw between Qormi and Young Stars the previous week meant that leaders Rabat Depiro needed just one win from their remaining three matches to seal their seventh championship title in a row. Rabat did what was expected of them on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Sliema.

A frenetic start saw Sliema take the lead after barely two minutes. Having won the ball in midfield, Dylan Lentini advanced towards the Rabat goal and supplied a throughball to Michael Bugeja who in turn dribbled past goalkeeper Azzopardi to reverse-hit into the net.

Rabat's reaction was immediate but they had to wait until the 18th minute to level the score. Charlot Antonelli powered his way past several Sliema players on the flank to set up Shawn Falzon who hammered home.

On resumption, Rabat went straight on the attack. On 38 minutes, Falzon pounced on a rebound off Sliema goalkeeper Mallia and with the help of a deflection off Lentini's stick, he scored his second goal of the day. In the 52nd minute, Rabat were awarded a penalty stroke from which Chris Bugeja made it 3-1 to ensure the points and the league title for his team.

White Hart 4
Young Stars 3

Straight from the first whistle, White Hart pressed forward and by the second minute they had already tested Waylin Abdilla who saved from Tua from close range.

On nine minutes, Young Stars were awarded a penalty when White Hart defender Patrick Meli stopped the ball from entering the net with his chest. However, from the resultant penalty, Andrew Galea stopped Chris Attard's stroke.

White Hart hit back and on 15 minutes, they were awarded a penalty for a stick infringement on Luke Borg Costanzi. The latter converted in style by sending the keeper the wrong way.

But, on 31 minutes, Young Stars equalised following a counter attack launched by Ivan Magro and concluded by Marvin Vella.

The first part of the second half was played at a slow tempo but this changed in the 51st minute. Paul Torpiano saw his first-time hit just missing the upright and a minute later, the same player made it 2-1 for White Hart with a reverse hit from a very acute angle.

After this setback, Young Stars intensified their attacking efforts but from a counter-break, Torpiano ran unhindered towards goal only to be brought down inside the D. From the penalty, Borg Costanzi made it 3-1.

White Hart scored goal no.4 from a short corner action, Borg Costanzi driving well past Abdilla to notch his first hat-trick at senior level.

All were under the impression that with five minutes to go and White Hart 4-1 ahead, the match was over and done with.

However, Young Stars forced two short corners in the space of two minutes and on both occasions, Mark Camilleri found the net with two identical push shots to make the score 4-3. Time was not on Young Stars' side, though.