Ħamrun Spartans1
Grima 87 Pen.
Rabat Ajax 1
Smeir 90

Adam Smeir handed Rabat Ajax only their second point in seven games after hitting a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Ħamrun Spartans.

A hitherto wretched encounter, one of the most boring witnessed so far this season, seemed set to finish goalless as, in keeping with their lowly position in the standings, Rabat and Ħamrun struggled to produce a semblance of flowing football with the result that scoring chances were few and far between.

Coming off a 3-1 win over Melita and enjoying the added benefit of playing at their home ground, the Spartans had been expected to up their game in pursuit of a second win but they were strangely subdued, particularly in the first half.

Rabat, playing to their strengths, had come closest to taking the lead when Heiner Backhaus’s first-half free-kick ricocheted off the crossbar but their hopes looked to have been dashed when the Spartans forged ahead courtesy of Massimo Grima’s late penalty.

This goal enlivened proceedings as the two teams went for broke with Adam Smeir grabbing a deserved equaliser for Rabat at the death.

The draw was probably a fair result but it was crystal-clear that these two teams must improve beyond recognition if they are to turn their fortunes around.

Ħamrun Spartans coach Stefan Sultana retained the same team that started the come-from-behind victory over Melita.

German midfielder Heiner Backhaus and forward Justin Felice were drafted into Rabat’s starting XI. Backhaus was preferred to Lithuanian striker Nerijus Astrauskas while Justin Felice replaced Clive Brincat, suspended.

Creative football was at a premium in the early stages. The first ghost of a chance came on 11 minutes when Backhaus’s cross from a left-wing free-kick soared into the box but Spartans goalkeeper Andrea Cassar came out to fist the ball away from the jumping Felice.

Another period of sloppy football before Rabat enjoyed a brief spell of pressure. They would have taken the lead but for the woodwork as Backhaus’s free-kick cannoned off the upright. Felice was first to the loose ball but his header was cleared by Roderick Fenech.

Rabat were showing more enterprise than the erstwhile lethargic Spartans who failed to create a single scoring opportunity in the opening half hour.

Gianluca Calabretta and Brightwell swapped flanks as Sultana tried to shake off his team’s early inertia. The Spartans produced their first chance seven minutes from half-time. Daniel Zerafa served Vella who turned well inside the box but his shot flashed against the side-netting.

The first half drew to a stuttering close but on the cusp of half-time, Rabat went close to breaking the stalemate. Dylan Falzon’s low cross from the right was partially cleared by Ħamrun and the loose ball fell to Smeir who miscued his shot.

Ħamrun brought some much-needed urgency to their game at the start of the second half. Ten minutes after the restart, Sultana was forced into his first substitution as Brightwell suffered an injury and was taken off on a stretcher. Brightwell was replaced by Ryan Spiteri.

A free-kick by Angel Yoshev ended high but the game remained drab with both sides seemingly unable to find some sort of rhythm.

Fenech interrupted the boredom with a long-range thunderbolt that flew just over the bar.

Vella made his first substitution on 65 minutes as Astrauskas came on for Felice. The Lithuanian was presented with a great chance to make an instant impact as he was released by Manuel Fuster but his effort was tamed by Cassar.

Not to be outshone, Jonathan Azzopardi produced a smart save to keep out Calabretta’s volley.

Tempers flared when Vella ran into the grounded Azzopardi. Backhaus pushed Vella who ended on the turf before referee Chris Lautier intervened to calm the situation. Vella and Backhaus were both booked.

On 86 minutes, the Spartans broke the deadlock. They were awarded a penalty after Falzon appeared to pull the advancing Vella and Grima despatched his shot past Azzopardi.

Ħamrun almost increased their lead but Vella’s grounder hit the foot of the post. Rabat looked shellshocked but they refused to give up.

The Magpies gained a merited equaliser on the stroke of time. Backhaus surprised his opponents as he cut the ball back to Smeir from a free-kick and the Rabat forward beat Cassar with a first-timer.

The game ended with a flourish as the two teams pushed for the winner. Ħamrun went closest when Camilleri guided the ball back to Grima and the latter’s screamer drew a fine save from Azzopardi.

Ħamrun Spartans: A. Cassar-6.5, D. Zerafa-5 (78 D. Camilleri), M. Grima-6, T. Vella-6.5, G. Calabretta-5.5 (82 A. Borg), A. Ivanov-5, R. Fenech-6.5, L. Vitanov-4, A. Yoshev-5, N. Bozhov-4, R. Brightwell-4 (55 R. Spiteri-5).

Rabat Ajax: J. Azzopardi-6.5, G. Jesualdi-5 (90 S. Gauci), C. Schembri-5, I. Carapic-6.5, H. Backhaus-6, J. Felice-5 (66 N. Astrauskas-5.5), A. Smeir-6.5, M. Fuster-5 (82 J. Caruana), D. Falzon-5, Y. Cauchi-6.5, D. Azzopardi-5.

Referee Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards Vitanov; Cauchi; Bozhov; Backhaus; Vella.

Man of the match Heiner Backhaus (Rabat Ajax).

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.