Rabat Ajax 2
Fuster 60; Negrin 79 pen;
Melita 2
Borg Olivier 12; Tufegdzic 44;

Relegation strugglers Melita and Rabat Ajax failed to capitalise on Ħamrun Spartans’ defeat to Floriana as they took a point apiece after a 2-2 draw.

Rabat were staring defeat in the face as Melita raced into a two-goal half-time lead but the Magpies staged a brave comeback after the change of ends to rescue a point thanks to Diego Carrillo Pendas and Jose Luis Armario Negrin who eclipsed their Spanish compatriots on Melita’s books.

The draw, the third between the two sides this season, thickened the plot in the drop zone with Rabat now one point behind the third-from-bottom Ħamrun and Melita a further point back.

Midfielder Joseph Caruana, back from suspension, replaced the injured Clive Brincat in Rabat’s starting XI.

Melita coach Patxi Salinas took a gamble by handing a first-team berth to up-and-coming goalkeeper Philip Schranz as Spanish goalkeeper Guillermo Garcia was left out of the 18-man squad.

Garcia’s omission owed to Salinas’s decision to field four outfield foreign players, namely Spaniards Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho and Diego Cabanillas, Serbian defender Ivan Tufegdzic and Portuguese Rudi Alhinho.

Schranz was called to make his first intervention after eight minutes when he pawed away a shot by Manuel Fuster who had darted his way into the box.

It was Melita who seized the lead with a spectacular goal on 11 minutes. Alan Borg Olivier, yesterday deployed on the left wing, lit up the game with a fulminating cross-cum-shot that ripped past the startled Sean Mintoff.

The Reds threatened to extend their lead but Cabanillas headed over from Julian Galea’s corner.

Cabanillas was the lone strike in Melita’s 4-1-4-1 formation with Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho handed screening duties in front of the back four.

Negrin, formerly of Melita, was Rabat’s central striker with Carrillo Pendas and David Azzopardi on the wings.

After Melita’s goal, creative football was at a premium as Rabat struggled to get going after falling behind.

On 27 minutes, Rabat constructed a fine move as Negrin turned well in the box before cutting the ball back for Carrillo whose first-time shot was blocked by the Melita defenders.

Rabat were then unlucky not to equalise as Carrillo’s well-struck free-kick rattled the crossbar.

From the possibility of drawing level, Rabat found themselves two goals in arrears a minute from half-time.

Sierra Camacho’s cross from a central free-kick soared towards the box and Tufegdzic produced a dipping header that seeped through a posse of players before dropping into the far corner of the net.

Malcolm Licari, who came on for the injured Gaetano Gesualdi at the start of the second half, threatened to make an instant impact.

Only two minutes from the start of the second period had elapsed when Licari leapt to meet Azzopardi’s inviting cross but his header drew a great save from Schranz.

Licari and Tufegdzic both suffered head wounds after their aerial duel but while the Rabat striker was able to continue after receiving medical attention, Melita’s Serbian defender had to leave the pitch. He was replaced by George Gribbon.

Chasing a goal to reopen the issue, Rabat were now pushing forward with renewed purpose. Carrillo did well to surge into the box but his low cross missed Negrin.

Rabat narrowed the deficit on the hour. Schranz failed to hold Azzopardi’s left-wing cross and the ball rolled invitingly to Fuster who slotted home.

The momentum was with Rabat. They came close again but Carrillo’s low free-kick was touched away by Schranz.

Melita remained ensconced in their own half as Rabat retained the initiative.

With 12 minutes left, Rabat’s optimism as they were awarded a penalty after Gribbon was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. Negrin drilled his penalty kick past Schranz to make it 2-2.

Six minutes from time, Carrillo was just wide with a free-kick.

At the other end, Alhinho’s header grazed the side-netting from Borg Olivier’s corner.

Rabat Ajax
S. Mintoff-5, G. Gesualdi-4 (46 M. Licari-6.5), I. Carapic-6, J. Caruana-6, J.L. Armario Negrin-6, M. Fuster-6.5, D. Falzon-5, P. Borg-5, D. Carillo Pendas-7, D. Azzopardi-6.5, C. Gauci-5.5.

Melita
P. Schranz-6.5, M. Borg-5, L. Bianco-5.5, I. Tufegdzic-6.5 (53 G. Gribbon-4), R. Alhinho-5, M.R. Sierra Camacho-6.5, M. Martin-5 (86 A. Caruana Scicluna), J.P. Attard-5, A. Borg Olivier-6.5, J. Galea-5, D. Cabanillas-5 (66 N. Rizzo-5).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Borg Olivier; M. Borg; Gribbon; P. Borg; Caruana Scicluna.

BOV player of the match: Diego Carrillo Pendas (Rabat).

Standings