RABAT AJAX-0, MOSTA-3
Three goals in the second half gave Mosta a deserved victory over Rabat Ajax who are still looking for their first point after three games.
Mosta were the better team throughout with their forwards Diego Pereira, Yuri De Jesus Messias and Ricardo Silva Faria causing endless problems to the Rabat defence.
Rabat had done well to keep a clean sheet in the first half and also threatened occasionally on the counter but in the end, Mosta’s superiority told.
Mosta dominated most of the first half but failed to turn their superiority into goals, hitting the woodwork twice in the final 20 minutes.
Three minutes into the game, Brazilian debutant Yury de Jesus Messias ran into the box from the right but his effort was blocked by Pavle Velimirovic.
Rabat almost scored from their first attack. Diego Carrillo’s inswinging cross from a corner was headed onto the crossbar by a Mosta defender before the Blues cleared. The half-clearance fell to Daniel Pelaez Bellido whose low shot was flicked on by Jonathan Bajada but the latter’s effort was deflected past the post.
Malcolm Licari then produced an excellent half-volley from Carrillo Pendas’ cross but his effort was inches wide.
Omar Borg, the Mosta goalkeeper, then thwarted Rabat when tipping Carrillo’s dangerous header over the bar.
Mosta came through this difficult moment to regain the initiative.
On 19 minutes, De Jesus Messias passed the ball back to Lukas Duriska who drove his shot high and wide.
On 25 minutes, Mosta’s Diego Pereira raced into but Dylan Falzon tracked back in time to divert the Brazilian’s effort away for a corner.
From the resultant corner, the ball dropped to Faria who set up Montenegrin striker Bojan Kaljevic but the latter’s angled strike hit the post.
Mosta should have taken the lead nine minutes from half-time when Jesus de Messias created space for a shot only to fire over.
Shortly afterwards, a dangerous cross from Bryan Agius almost deceived Velimirovic who was reprieved by the cross.
Rabat were forced to resort to fouls to disrupt Mosta’s momemtum. From a free-kick, taken by Agius, Tyrone Farrugia’s close-range header was saved by the Rabat goalkeeper.
Mosta were first to threaten when the second half began, Kaljevic heading over from Farias’s cross.
Moises Avila-Perez had a great chance to put Rabat ahead when bursting through after Mosta had surrendered possession but the Spaniard’s effort was wide.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Mosta were awarded a penalty after De Jesus Messias was upended by David Azzopardi’s late challenge.
Referee Andre Arciola pointed to the spot and cautioned Azzopardi before Fernandes, who had replaced Kaljevic, sent his penalty past Velimirovic.
Rabat would have fallen two behind but for the woodwork as Pereira’s drive shook the crossbar after taking a deflection.
Velimirovic spectacularly repelled Tyrone Farrugia’s header from Faria’s cross. In a rare attack, Rabat went close to an equaliser when Avila-Perez raced towards the bye-line before pulling the ball back to Carrillo whose first-time effort crashed against the bar.
Borg, the Mosta goalkeeper, then did well to push Daniel Pelaez’s teasing cross from a free-kick but the Blues doubled their lead 14 minutes from time. Shaun Gauci committed an own goal as he tried to clear Pereira’s cross.
The score became 3-0 six minutes from time when a cross by Pereira was touched by Velimirovic but Fernandes headed home at the far post.
Late in the game, Rabat were reduced to 10 men after Falzon was sent off for a second yellow card.
Carrillo, the Rabat winger, was named BOV player of the match.