RABAT AJAX-3, BALZAN-0
Rabat Ajax kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation with an emphatic 3-0 win over Balzan at the Tedesco Stadium.
Their Spanish players were instrumental in their win as striker Jose Luis Armario Negrin scored a brace while Manuel Fuster and Diego Carrillo produced fine performances that tormented the dispirited Balzan team who hardly created a genuine scoring chance all game.
With this win, Rabat have moved on the 13-point mark, two ahead of Hamrun Spartans who play bottom side in the second game. Rabat should have forged ahead on 17 minutes when Diego Carrillo Pendas released Jose Luis Armario Negrin who blasted wide with only Balzan goalkeeper Daniel Martinez to beat.
A minute later, Rabat were awarded a penalty after Stefan Giglio tripped Carrillo inside the penalty area. Negrin made no mistake from the spot. The Magpies continued to push forward as Balzan were nowhere to be seen. Midway into the first half, Carrillo's corner was met by Ivan Carapic but his header was saved by Martinez.
Rabat were then unlucky not to increase their lead as Fuster's rising shot from inside the box came off the crossbar.
Minutes later, Fuster went close again when his shot was tipped away by Martinez. Five minutes into the second half, Fuster supplied a great pass over Balzan's defence and into the path of Negrin but his tame effort from inside the penalty area was easily saved by Martinez.
At the other end, Caruana made headway through the middle but his shot was miscued. Martinez then stopped an effort from Carrillo before Ryan Darmanin wasted a good chance for Balzan as his weak drive, following a good pass from Jamie Pace, was saved by Mintoff.
In an isolated attack, Balzan striker Elie Moises headed wide from Matthew Mendy's cross but Rabat stayed on top. They nearly doubled their advantage when Carrillo's curling drive from a free-kick cannoned off the crossbar before Mendy headed clear.
With 16 minutes left, Rabat should have scored their second when, in a counter-attack, Fuster again released Negrin who tried to lift the ball over Martinez but the Balzan goalkeeper saved. Balzan failed to heed the alarming signals and Rabat duly sealed the issue with two quick goals.
David Azzopardi made it 2-0 with a shot from outside the box and Negrin added a third after receiving from Fuster.
Fuster was voted BOV player of the match.