Rabat Ajax 0
Msida St Joseph 0
Msida St Joseph became the second team to lose their status in Division One after Birzebbuga St Peter’s following a scoreless draw with Rabat Ajax at the Centenary Stadium, yesterday.
The end result was not a good one for Rabat either who are still embroiled in the tussle to avoid the third-bottom position and a relegation play-off next month.
Msida played one of their best matches in their bid to prolong their hopes for yet another week.
However, they failed to find a way through and in the end they also had to finish with ten men following a red card to Anyanwu.
Lawrence Chiedozie went close for Rabat early on but his effort went just wide.
On 18 minutes, Msida keeper Matthew Camilleri was on the right spot to keep out a headed attempt by Aiden Azzopardi as Rabat were the better team in the opening stages.
Msida hit back with a Lee James Agius shot that went off target.
At the other end, Brandon Micallef blasted wide after being put through by Adam Smeir and just before half-time Msida’s Faria ran into position but his shot from an angle was kept out by Magpies keeper Jamie Azzopardi.
Play was concentrated mainly in midfield for most of the second half.
David Azzopardi tried his luck for Rabat but with scant reward as his shot soared just over Msida’s goal.
Agius was unlucky to see his header, from a Vukovic service, cleared off the Rabat goal-line by Dylan Falzon. However, the Saints’ hopes were all but dashed on 80 minutes when Anyanwu was red carded for a second bookable offence.
Rabat could have profited from the situation but Chiedozie fired wide from a good position and Smeir’s header was stopped in style by Camilleri.
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana (E. Scicluna), L. Cauchi, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, B. Micallef, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie, A. Azzopardi (W. Borg), D. Azzopardi.
Msida: M. Camilleri, L. Cassar, G. Vella, S. Vella, K. Borg, M. Caruana (I. Chircop), Z. Vukovic, D. Cachia, R. Faria, U. Anyanwu, L.J. Agius (F. Zammit).
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Player of the match: Zvezdan Vukovic (Msida St Joseph).