HAMRUN SPARTANS-1, RABAT AJAX-3
Rabat Ajax struck three goals in 21 first-half minutes to down the challenge of Hamrun Spartans in a crucial relegation match this evening.
Starting the match two points behind the Spartans, Rabat needed to win to boost their chances of avoiding the drop. Their hopes looked to have suffered a blow when the Spartans took an early lead but Rabat staged a determined reaction to storm to a deserved victory that lifted them one point above Hamrun and six clear of bottom side Melita.
The game was off to an explosive start.
Rabat had three good chances to open the scoring inside the opening seven minutes through Jose Luis Amario Negrin, who miscued his effort, Diego Carrillo Pendas, whose dangerous shot was tipped away by Anthony Curmi and Malcolm Licari whose acrobatic volley sailed over the bar.
It was Hamrun who forged ahead after nine minutes when Roderick Fenech scored with a near-post header from Emiliano Lattes's corner.
Rabat made an immediate reaction, taking only five minutes to level when Manuel Fuster drifted infield from the left before passing to Negrin who rifled a low shot past the hapless Curmi.
The Magpies stayed on top. David Azzopardi was wide with a fine strike but on 18 minutes Rabat went ahead thanks to Licari who headed past Curmi from Yan Cauchi's cross.
Just past the half-hour, Rabat's Joseph Caruana went close with a strong shot that ended wide but the Magpies increased their lead 10 minutes from half-time through Fuster who tapped home after good work by Negrin.
Curmi denied Rabat a fourth goal when stopping Negrin's effort after the latter had been released by Fuster.
Two minutes into the second half, the Spartans went close to reducing the deficit when Daniel Zerafa's header from Ryan Spiteri's cross came off the near post.
Rabat remained the more dangerous side. Two minutes past the hour, Fuster passed to Negrin who dashed into the box but hit wide.
Needing a goal to reopen the issue, Hamrun upped the tempo of their game but Rabat held firm.
It was not before six minutes from time that the Spartans produced a scoring chance through Spiteri whose far-post volley shook the woodwork.
Rabat twice went close to sealing the issue when Carrillo's grounder ended just wide and Negrin was stopped by Curmi's body check after the Spaniard had received from Caruana. The penalty appeals from the Rabat players were waved away by Alan Mario Sant.
Lattes hit just wide at the end of a lengthy Spartans attack.
Rabat's Fuster was named BOV player of the match.