Premier League newcomers Rabat and Melita fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the National Stadium this evening.

Rabat took only seven minutes to forge ahead when Yan Cauchi burst clear on the left before squaring the ball into the path of Astrauskas who blasted the ball past Karl Zahra, the Melita goalkeeper.

Melita's response soon arrived and the Amateurs managed to draw level on 14 minutes when Julian Galea saw his shot blocked by a Rabat defender and from the rebound Luke Micallef placed the ball past Sean Mintoff.

However, Rabat took just five minutes to regain their lead when Ryan Micallef unleashed a powerful drive from outside the area that came off the upright and from the rebound Astrauskas stabbed the ball into an empty net.

Here, Melita stepped up their efforts to get back into the match and on 33 minutes Luke Micallef was upended in the area by Christian Muscat but from the resultant penalty Hose Luis Armaro Negrin saw his shot parried away by Mintoff.

The Amateurs eventually grabbed an equaliser on 73 minutes when Luke Micallef released Armaro Negrin who slotted the ball pat Mintoff.The goal hit hard the Magpies who conceded again eight minues from time when substitute Michael Valenzia sent a delightful throughball into the path of Armaro Negrin whose shot past through the arms of Mintoff and into the net.

Melita were now sensing that they were closing on victory but their hopes were dashed in time added on when Fuster unleashed a powerful drive that flew into the top corner of the net to the delight of the Rabat fans.

Melita's Luke Micallef was voted as the BOV Player of the match.