Rabat Ajax 1
San Ġwann 2
San Ġwann obtained their second victory in a row to leave Rabat Ajax rooted to the bottom of the table.
It seems that the Magpies, who paraded new coach Charles Borg yesterday, are finding it hard these days to beat San Ġwann who last season secured a victory and a draw from the clashes against Rabat in Division Two. However, on the evidence of this match, a draw would have been a fair result.
Both teams played an all-out attacking game. San Ġwann opted for a wide game with many of their forays coming from the flanks. Antoine Zahra, and then Steve Pisani, who substituted him on the right flank, and Firaz Aboulezz left their mark for the Saints.
Rabat took the field without suspended goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi. Again, they relied mainly on Adam Smeir in attack with Jonathan Bezzina trying his best on the left flank to provide some assistance up front.
The first move came from Rabat when Keith Micallef drove the ball a whisker away from target. Smeir was unlucky a few minutes later when his diagonal shot from just inside the area finished just wide.
The Saints hit back on 10 minutes when Sergio Hili powered his way into the Rabat box but his shot was deflected to a corner as the match continued to flourish with action at both ends of the pitch.
On the half hour, Emmanuel Muscat was first to a rebound outside the Saints box but his shot went astray.
A minute before the break, San Ġwann broke the deadlock. Chris Cuschieri hit home following a swift move started by Sergio Hili.
But, Rabat equalised ten minutes after the restart when Adrian Mifsud headed home an Edward Azzopardi free-kick. Keeper Justin Spiteri failed to clear and the wily Mifsud nipped in to score.
Rabat stayed in attack mode but Bezzina was a trifle too late to conclude following an inviting Smeir pass.
The Magpies missed another glorious opportunity on 75 minutes when Spiteri booted a clearance into the path of Smeir but the latter drove the ball wide with an open goal at his mercy.
Mifsud should have given Rabat the lead on 80 minutes but hit badly following some good work by Smeir.
Rabat were made to pay for their lapses as two minutes later substitute Steve Pisani flicked the ball home to score the winner for the Saints.
Rabat Ajax
J. Borg, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, A. Mifsud, A. Smeir, C. Schembri, E. Muscat, K. Micallef (G. Magri), L. Micallef (D. Galea), E. Azzopardi.
San Ġwann
J. Spiteri, C. Giordmaina, M. Caruana, R. Newell, J. Buttigieg, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri, F. Aboulezz, L. Cumbo, S. Hili (R. Zammit), A. Zahra (S. Pisani).
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Man of the match: Chris Cuschieri (San Ġwann).