GZIRA UTD 2
Guaye 51; Meilak 90+
RABAT AJAX 1
Bajada 5
A dramatic late goal by Steve Meilak capped a stunning comeback from division one strugglers Gzira United as they knocked Rabat Ajax out of the U*Bet FA Trophy.
The Spirits of the Magpies’ faithful rose when the white-shirted players put their noses in front after just five minutes. Jonathan Bajada pounced on a short clearance to smash the ball home from the edge of the area with a sumptuous vollye of exquisite timing and technique that nestled into the top corner.
Undeterred by the early setback, the Division One outfit started to pile the pressure on Rabat. In the 8th minute, Shawn Gauci rescued his side from a dangerous situtation when clearing the ball away from Guaye after Avila Perez flicked Bjorn Bondin’s ball into the box. Then, Kotyza made good progress on the right and centred for Guaye whose attempt was repelled by Pavle Velimirovic, the Rabat goalkeeper.
In the 21st minute, Rabat threatened to double their lead, the elusive Carrillo Pendas slalomed his way on the left flank, from where he let fly a stinging drive that Kyle Gerada turned away for a corner.
There was little in the way of scoring chances in the remaining minutes of the first half but on the brink of half-time, Avila Perez blasted wide from just outside the box.
Four minutes from the start of the second half expired when Deguara hit a low shot from the edge of the box but Velimirovic saved.
One minute later, Rabat’s apprehension grew as David Azzopardi was expelled by Finnish referee Ville Nevalainen after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. From the ensuing free-kick , Deguara floated a a clever ball into the box which Velimirovic punched into the air, Guaye was on hand to hit an acrobatic overhead kick to send it sailing over the goalkeeper and into an unguarded net.
With his team down to 10 men, D’Amato tried to steady the ship by sending in defender Patrick Borg for Malcolm Licari. But the force was now with Gzira. Shy the hour mark, Avila Perez who started the season with Rabat, raced in the area to meet Yanis Tonna’s cross but just failed to make contact with a gaping goal at his mercy.
Rabat seized control in the later on during the second half. Eight minutes from time, receiving a pass from Carrillo Pendas, Bajada’s tame effort went wide. Few moments later, Ryan Micallef, far from his best yesterday, spurned a great chance, heading out from Bajada’s cross.
In the dying minutes, Gzira couldn’t believe their bad luck when Avila Perez, who started the season with Rabat, headed Kotyza’s cross on the base of the post.
And just when it seemed that Rabat had weathered the storm, Gzira grabbed the winner in the last minute of stoppage time. Steve Meilak was on the right spot to stab the ball past Velimirovic from Avila Perez’s cross to send the Maroons fanscelebrating.