Melita 1
Galea 48;
Rabat Ajax 4
Negrin 40 pen; Pendas 68, 85; Licari 89;

Seemingly down and out after a run of 21 games without a win, Rabat Ajax are now within touching distance from retaining their top-flight status after finally breaking their jinx against Melita who have now been condemned to relegation.

The Magpies’ strong second fightback, after Melita had partially drawn level, mirrored the collective resolve of their players shown throughout the season as Diego Carrillas Pendas put up a blistering performance that led the team to a crucial victory.

Rabat are now four points clear of second-from-bottom Ħamrun Spartans who face Floriana tomorrow. Should the Reds fail to pick up a point from the match, Rabat will be assured of prolonging their stay in the top flight for another season.

Both sides opted for a change between their respective goals as Melita’s Philip Schranz and Rabat’s Sean Mintoff were drafted back into the starting formation.

As expected Ivan Carapic replaced the suspended Justin Felice for the Magpies as Manuel Sierra Camacho and Karl Vella Petroni were given the nod to start after seeing out a one-match ban.

It was a fractious opening period with plenty of niggle as possession was surrended far too cheaply by either side to find any kind of rhytmn. For long spells, this seemed to suit Melita who had the better start but without troubling the Rabat rearguard.

The Ajax served notice of their attacking intent on 14 minutes, Jose Luis Armario Negrin unleashed a dipping shot that sailed just over the bar.

But Rabat’s best chance fell to the Spaniard after 25 minutes when Carrillo Pendas’ surge into the box was halted by the sliding Alhinho.

Negrin’s shot from the ensuing penalty was touched away by Schranz.

Unperturbed by the penalty miss, the Ajax kept pressing for the opener.

On the half hour mark, Negrin’s terrific effort finished just off the post. Moments later, Pendas’ low drive was pushed away by Schranz.

But Melita’s reprieve was tem-porary as Ivan Tufegzic got a slight touch on Pendas’s heel to block his run into the box, prompting Adrian Azzopardi to order a second penalty.

This time Negrin made no mistake to put Rabat ahead.

Patxi Salinas’s decision to bring in Antoine Attard at the expense of the subdued Alan Borg Olivier at half-time bore fruit immediately and with virtually his first touch of the ball, he crossed for Julian Galea who gleefully blasted a shot that battered the underside of the bar and flew into the net.

Capping an amazing start to the second half, Melita’s Luke Micallef had his shot deflected by Patrick Borg after 58 minutes.

Past the hour mark, the pendulum swung once more in favour of Rabat. Fastening on to a long pass from midfield, Pendas outpaced the Melita defenders but his swerving shot missed the target.

The scoreboard marked 68 minutes when George Gribbon sent Pendas crashing following a serious venture towards the Melita area.

The Spaniard picked himself up to exact a delightful strike that beat the Melita wall and dropped into the top corner of the net.

In the 75th minute, Rabat failed to apply the killer blow when Azzopardi squared for Fuster but Schranz stuck out his foot to save the Spanish midfielder’s effort.

The ball was moved quickly upfront to Daniel Cabanillas who tested the Rabat custodian to the limit but the goalkeeper stretched out his hands to claw the ball away.

Rabat put the match beyond Melita’s reach on 85 minutes when Pendas surged down the left flank, breezed past Gribbon before whipping in a delightful ball into the right corner.

A minute later, Rabat were reduced to 10 men when Fuster was shown the red card for an unorthodox tackle on Luke Sammut.

Yet, two minutes later, Malcolm Licari who had just replaced the profligate Negrin, made an instant impact on the game when he lifted the Rabat crowd with a wonderful solo run on the left flank before scoring with a fine finish.

Melita
P. Schranz-6, L. Bianco-6, I. Tufegzic-5, G. Gribbon-4.5, J. Galea-6.5, D. Cabanillas Ayllon-5, L. Micallef-5.5 (68 L. Sammut-4), R. Alhinho-4 ( 78 A. Caruana Scicluna), A. Borg Olivier-4 (46 A. Attard-6), K. Vella Petroni-5, M. Sierra Camacho-5.

Rabat Ajax
S. Mintoff-6, I. Carapic-6, J. Caruana-7.5, J. Armario Negrin-5 (80 M. Licari), M. Fuster, D. Falzon-6, P. Borg-5.5 (73 C. Brincat), D. Carrillo Pendas-8, Y. Cauchi-6, D. Azzopardi-6 (82 G. Gesualdi), C. Gauci-6.5.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Tufegzic; Gauci; Galea; Bianco; Gribbon.

Missed penalty: Negrin (R) 25.

Red card: Fuster (R) 87.

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