Rabat Ajax 3
Negrin 45 pen, 57, 63;
Mosta 2
Mitev 80, 90 pen;
Rabat Ajax lifted a massive burden from their shoulders yesterday. An excruciating run of 21 games without a win inevitably led to growing cynicism about their top-flight credentials but Rabat at last broke their jinx after beating Mosta 3-2.
The final scoreline may suggest that the game was a tight affair but the reality was starkly different as Silvio Vella’s troops outshone their inept opponents, racing into a three-goal lead, thanks to Spanish striker Jose Luis Armaro Negrin’s hat-trick, before Mosta salvaged some lost pride with two late goals.
Mosta’s late rally set up a nervy finale for Rabat but they held on to claim the three points and a psychological boost before the start of the Relegation Pool, to the evident relief of coach Vella and their fans.
Vella set his team out in a 4-5-1 formation with Negrin leading the line. Rabat were missing combative midfielder Joseph Caruana and Malcolm Licari, injured.
There was no change in Mosta’s tactical module as Steve D’Amato stuck with 4-3-3 in which Danail Mitev and Mano Micallef manned the wings and Nigerian Bruno Chikwado Mbonu kept the central striker’s role.
After three minutes, Kurt Magro’s low shot was blocked by Sean Mintoff, the Rabat goalkeeper. Mitev was unlucky not to open the scoring after seven minutes as his exquisite drive from the edge of the box came off the post.
Rabat took a while to get going before a jinking run by Spanish winger Diego Carrillo Pendas opened up the Mosta defence but the final shot was cleared.
Two minutes short of the half-hour, Rabat squandered a great chance. Carrillo Pendas supplied a precise pass to Negrin who sidestepped his marker but his close-range attempt was tipped away by Jeffrey Farrugia, the Mosta keeper.
Missing the suspended Carlos Campagnoli, Mosta faltered after a promising start. It was not before the 32nd minute that they came close to scoring when Micallef cut in from the left before serving Mbonu who rifled wide.
The Magpies should have put their noses in front when Negrin powered his way past two defenders but his point-blank effort was kept out by Farrugia.
A goal was in the air and it duly came on the stroke of half-time. Racing onto a long pass, Negrin burst clear only to be brought down by Chiemeka. Referee Mario Apap pointed to the spot and cautioned the Nigerian before Negrin rammed his shot past Farrugia.
While Mosta were jaded and bereft of ideas, Rabat were industrious and composed, qualities embodied by their Spanish trio of Negrin, Carrillo and Manuel Fuster.
Carrillo and Negrin combined to increase Rabat’s advantage 12 minutes into the second half. Latching on to Carrillo’s pass, Negrin sprinted into the box before firing past Farrugia.
Mosta looked incapable of summoning a dollop of energy to mount a reaction.
Their misery deepened on 63 minutes when Rabat made it 3-0. Carrillo’s dipping shot from the distance cannoned off a post but the loose ball dropped to Fuster whose first-time drive hit Magro’s groping hands.
Apap ordered a penalty and Negrin beat Farrugia with a low drive to complete his hat-trick.
Three goals to good, Rabat were dangerous again when Carrillo surged into the box but his grounder came off the side-netting.
Mosta came close to narrowing the deficit when Mitev drove towards the bye-line but his shot flew across the face of goal. The loose ball rolled towards substitute Jonathan Bajada who blasted wide.
Ten minutes from time, Mosta pulled one back thanks to Mitev whose swerving free-kick flew past the diving Mintoff.
Rabat could have restored their three-goal lead when Carrillo bore down on goal through the middle but his effort was saved by Farrugia.
In stoppage time, Mosta scored their second. They were awarded a penalty after Gesualdi was adjudged to have pulled down Bryan Agius in the box. Mitev made no mistake from the spot.
Rabat Ajax
S. Mintoff-6, G. Gesualdi-6, I. Carapic-6.5, J. Felice (24 P. Borg-7), J.L. Armaro Negrin-8 (88 C. Vella), M. Fuster-6.5, D. Falzon-6, C. Brincat-6, D. Carrillo Pendas-7.5, D. Azzopardi-6.5, C. Gauci-7.
Mosta
J. Farrugia-5.5, G. Sammut-5, B. Agius-5, T. Farrugia-5 (46 J. Bajada-5), S. Chiemeka-5, R. Grech-4 (70 K. Zammit), K. Magro-5.5, M. Micallef-5, D. Mitev-6, F. Vignaroli-5, B.C. Mbonu-4 (74 O. Ugochukwu).
Referee: Mario Apap.
Yellow cards: Agius; Brincat; Chiemeka; Borg; Magro; Sammut.
BOV player of the match: Jose Luis Armaro Negrin (Rabat Ajax).