Rabat Ajax 3
Fuster 4; Felice 77; Negrin 88;
Birkirkara 3
Scicluna 60; Jhonnattann 68; Vukanac 83;
A seemingly straightforward match for Birkirkara unfolded into a grim scrap as Rabat defied the odds to hold the title hopefuls to a 3-3 draw.
With the Magpies rooted to the foot of the table with no wins in 13 games, Birkirkara were fancied to sweep past their struggling opponents but Manuel Fuster’s early opener for Rabat set the tone for a rollercoaster encounter.
Birkirkara will feel aggrieved by the final outcome as they dictated matters for long stretches and produced the better football but Rabat deserve credit for their never-say-die attitude.
Mindful of their limitations, Rabat looked content to cede the initiative to Birkirkara as their strategy was to keep things tight at the back and try to hit their opponents on the counter.
Fuster’s opener went some way towards imbuing Rabat with renewed self-belief. When Birkirkara piled up the pressure in the second half, the Magpies teetered only to summon the energy to hit back and punish their opponents’ defensive failings with debutant Jose Luis Armaro Negrin capping their fightback with a late goal.
Negrin’s salvo not only prevented Birkirkara from bouncing back after a 2-2 draw with Balzan, it stopped them from reclaiming sole leadership in the table.
Left-back Joseph Zerafa was omitted from the starting line-up as Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit made three changes. Ini Aktpan deputised for Reuben Gauci, out with an abdominal problem, in goal, Zach Muscat replaced Edward Herrera, injured, and Yosimar Hernandez was given his first start.
Hernandez was initially deployed on the left side of Birkirkara’s three-pointed attack as Ryan Camenzuli switched to left-back, a position normally occupied by the demoted Zerafa.
Negrin, who joined Rabat some days ago following his departure from Melita, was thrust straight into the thick of things as he was handed the lone striker’s role by coach Silvio Vella. The task of providing support for Negrin fell on Justin Felice and Fuster.
The inclement weather proved a good omen for Rabat who nosed ahead after just four minutes.
Capitalising on the glaring gaps in the Birkirkara box, Fuster had time to pick his spot before arrowing a curling shot that gave Aktpan no chance.
As was to be expected, Birkirkara staged an immediate reaction, mustering a barrage of crosses that were warded off by Rabat.
At the other end, Fuster was wide with a grounder. Birkirkara remained on top, possession-wise, Rowen Muscat blasting over at the far post after Jhonnattann’s corner was not cleared by Rabat.
Despite their superior possession, Birkirkara seldom troubled the Rabat rearguard. That was until 32 minutes when Jhonnattann, veering into the box from the right, cut across Ivan Carapic but his piledriver drew a fine save from keeper Sean Mintoff.
Amid Birkirkara’s dominance, Rabat’s ventures into their opponents’ half were sporadic. On one occasion, Fuster made headway on the left before delivering a cross that almost surprised Aktpan.
Having found it difficult to break down Rabat, who defended deep and always kept four men at the back, Birkirkara needed to vary their movement to create openings.
Early in the second half, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza released Alejandro Mendoza but the Spaniard skied his effort.
Mifsud Triganza was then on the receiving end of a good pass from Jhonnattann but the former Sliema stiker hit the side-netting. The Stripes were now applying pressure on Rabat from all angles.
Their improvement yielded an equaliser on the hour when Mifsud Triganza evaded his marker before dinking the ball towards the right and Ryan Scicluna rifled home.
Rabat were now betraying signs of edginess. It didn’t take the Stripes long to double their lead as an electric interchange between Mifsud Triganza and Jhonnattann unlocked the Rabat defence with the Brazilian racing through before drilling a low shot past Mintoff.
Zammit’s decision to change the positions of Scicluna, now pushing on the right wing, and Hernandez, more effective in a roaming role, had a disconcerting effect on Rabat.
The Stripes could have made the points safe when Jhonnattann picked out Mifsud Triganza but he miscued his effort. Scicluna did likewise.
Birkirkara were made to pay for that miss as Rabat levelled 13 minutes from time. David Azzopardi’s delivery soared into the box and Felice timed his jump to perfection to head past Aktpan.
Rabat’s leveller was a bolt out of the blue for Birkirkara but they refused to buckle. Their persistence was rewarded when defender Nikola Vukanac placed his shot beyond Mintoff after the latter had parried Mifsud Triganza’s effort.
Everyone probably thought that Vukanac’s goal had settled the issue in Birkirkara’s favour but the drama was not over yet.
The Magpies again found the inner strength, and ample space in the sluggish Birkirkara defence, to make it 3-3 as Negrin ran on to a long pass and prodded past the flailing Aktpan.
Inevitably, Birkirkara laid siege to Rabat’s goal in the dying moments.
Mintoff denied Birkirkara in stoppage time when pawing Mifsud Triganza’s goalbound volley.
Rabat Ajax
S. Mintoff-7.5, I. Carapic-5, J. Caruana-6.5, J. Felice-6.5, J.L. Armaro Negrin-6.5, M. Fuster-6.5, D. Falzon-6, P. Borg-6 (90 G. Gesualdi), Y. Cauchi-6 (72 W. Borg), D. Azzopardi-6, C. Gauci-5 (86 C. Vella).
Birkirkara
I. Aktpan-4, R. Scicluna-7 (85 R. Pereira), N. Vukanac-6, A. Mendoza-5, Y. Hernandez-6.5 (78 J. Zerafa), Z. Muscat-6, P. Fenech-5.5, R. Muscat-5.5, Jhonnattann-7.5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5, R. Camenzuli-5.5 (90 K. Zammit).
Referee: Mario Apap.
Yellow card: Jhonnattann.
BOV player of the match: Jhonnattann (Birkirkara).