Birkirkara 2 Rabat Ajax 0
A gallant Rabat Ajax side made Premier league leaders Birkirkara sweat.
As expected, it was Birkirkara who made the stronger start. After seven minutes, Ryan Camenzuli advanced on the left flank before his cross was headed wide by Jhannatann. The Stripes continued to monopolise possession without however stretching the Magpies rearguard beyond routine work. On the quarter of hour mark, the Brazilian, a constant threat with his direct running, flashed a ball across the face of goal from a corner, finding no takers until Rowen Muscat hit the post from a tight angle.
The defensive-minded Rabat began to find their rhythm midway through the first-half with the midfield trio of Adam Smeir, Caruana and Manuel Fuster showing good understanding between them. In the 23rd minute, a flowing move saw the Spaniard switching the ball to Smeir before the nippy striker went down in the penalty area when trying to beat Reuben Gauci the Birkirkara goalkeeper but referee Fyodor Zammit booked the striker for simulation instead of awarding the penalty.
The Stripes were far from their best but Camenzuli was causing all sorts of problems on the left flank, running at Yan Cauchi ruthlessly with terrifying pace. And in the 32nd time, Jhannattan supplied a square pass from corner for Vukanac who rose above everyone to head the ball home.
The goal should have been the signal for Birkirkara to get on the front foot but the opposite happened, with Rabat gaining more possession and they thought they had equalised when Ryan Micallef directed his shot past Gauci but the assistant referee Chris Francalanza had raised his flag to signal an offside infringement even though a swarm black-and-white shirted players protested vehemently claiming that the Rabat player was kept on side by Alejandro Mendoza.
The Magpies almost stunned their more-quoted opponents again, when two minutes into the second half, Smeir conjured a perfectly-hit free-kick that Gauci tipped around the post.
The striped-shirted players went up at the other end and scored again.
The modus operandi was always the same but this time, Jhonnattann sent another precise corner for Mifsud Triganza who tapped in from close-range.
The Brazilian was voted BOV player of the match.