Rabat Ajax 1
Carrillo Pendas 22;
Naxxar Lions 2
Gilmar 52; Buhagiar 61;
Two quick goals midway through the second half enabled Naxxar Lions to come from behind and have the better of Rabat Ajax yesterday.
An early Diego Carrillo Pendas goal gave the few Rabat fans present hope that this could be a good day for their side.
But in the second half, Naxxar stepped up their game and inspired by the strong running of Daren Falzon, Ousseni Zongo and Gilmar, they pegged the Magpies in their own half and it was only a matter of time before they turned the tide in their favour for a merited victory.
For Rabat, Carrillo Pendas’ one-man show was not enough to turn around the team’s fortunes and coach Steve D’Amato must go back to the drawing board to address his side’s defensive frailties as the Magpies are still in search of their first win.
D’Amato must have taken considerable heart from a resolute second-half display against Vittoriosa Stars as he opted for a bold attacking formation with Moises Avila Perez – replacing Josef Tonna – deployed deep infront with Adam Smeir and Daniel Peleaz Bellido just behind with Carrillo Pendas providing support from the flanks.
Naxxar coach Winston Muscat was buoyed by the return of Angus Buhagiar from suspension and he threw him straight in his starting XI at the expense of Louis Cutajar.
The Lions were off to a strong start and after three minutes, Mattia Del Negro drifted a cross into the path of Ousseni Zongo who saw his header bounce off Pavle Velimirovic’s bar.
The tide soon turned though and the Magpies clicked into higher gear.
On 22nd minutes, Thiago illegally ended Smeir’s first serious venture towards the Naxxar area. The free-kick was awarded on the left flank in perfect Carrillo Pendas territory and the Spaniard produced a delightful right-foot strike that bent away from Julian Azzopardi’s despairing dive and into the net via the post.
Rabat’s revival, driven by returning Clifford Gauci’s work ethic and Carrillo Pendas’s speed brought the game to life.
Naxxar were on the ropes and Carrillo Pendas almost struck again on 34 minutes when he deflected Pelaez’s free-kick towards goal but the ball finished just wide.
At the other end, Daren Falzon gave the illusion of a goal as his free-kick flashed against the side-netting.
On the restart, Naxxar brought on veteran Victor Bellia and laid siege to the Rabat defence.
On 50 minutes Pablo Doffo curled a free-kick towards the top corner but Velimirovic just managed to tip the ball over.
But the Lions grabbed an equaliser two minutes later. Falzon’s backheel released Gilmar who fired home from a tight angle.
Hardly nine minutes passed when Rabat suffered another setback.
Falzon and Buhagiar exposed Rabat’s frailties on the left flank with the latter surging into the area before moving past David Azzo-pardi and Ivan Carapic to slot the ball past Velimirovic.
Rabat had little energy to force a reaction and Naxxar continued to venture forward.
On 68 minutes Velimirovic came to his side’s rescue when he pushed over the bar Gilmar’s effort.
The Magpies’s defensive frailties were once again exposed five minutes from time when Marlon Briffa made a superb run down the right flank only to see his shot saved by the Rabat goalkeeper.
At death, Carrillo Pendas curled another free-kick over the wall but the ball finished wide.
Rabat Ajax
P. Velimirovic-6.5, S. Gauci-5, D. Azzopardi-4, D. Falzon-5, D. Pelaez Bellido-5, P. Borg-5 (67 M. Licari-4), C. Gauci-6.5, A. Smeir-5, D. Carrillo Pendas-7, I. Carapic-5, M. Avila Perez-4.
Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6, M. Briffa-5.5 A. Buhagiar-7, Gilmar-6.5, A. Decesare-5.5, M. Del Negro-6 (46 V. Bellia-6), P. Doffo-6, D. Falzon-7.5 (80 J. Ani), Thiago-6, Evaldo-6, O. Zongo-6.5.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Doffo, Smeir, Briffa, Dylan Falzon.
BOV Player of the match: Daren Falzon (Naxxar Lions).