Rabat Ajax 0
Balzan 2
Pace 44; Elton 86
Balzan continued with their fine form of late with a 2-0 victory over Rabat Ajax. Jamie Pace and Elton earned Ivan Zammit’s side the three points to leapfrog Ħamrun Spartans in the standings and move to seventh place, two points behind Tarxien Rainbows.
Rooted to the bottom of the table, Rabat Ajax knew they would face a steep learning curve in the top-flight and a tall order to halt their negative run yesterday.
In fact, Balzan summed up the Magpies’ woes perfectly as Silvio Vella’s team are still searching their first win after 11 outings this season.
Rabat were again down to the bare bones with Nerjus Astrauskas a late addition to their growing injury list that includes strikers Adam Smeir, Ryan Micallef and Wayne Borg. The Mapgies were also decimated by the suspension of midfielder Heinar Backhaus.
Vella had no option but to field a makeshift midfield with David Azzopardi filling in at the right, Joseph Caruana and Clifford Gauci forming the central axis and Yan Cauchi on the left.
Balzan had their fair share of problems to contend with as well.
Renie Forace and Bjorn Bondin were suspended as Clint Micallef and Dylan Grima was ruled out with injury. On the positive side, Elton and Renato were available for selection.
The opening exchanges were balanced but Manuel Fuster mustered two scoring opportuni-ties in quick succession within the first ten minutes.
The pace of the Spanish mid-fielder, deployed in a quasi-striker role, was the Ajax’s major threat as he rounded off Yessous Camilleri but dragged his effort wide off the target. Moments later, Fuster had a neat one-two with Felice before he tried his luck with a speculative shot that flew wide.
Pedrinho was catching the eye with some attractive passing for Balzan who, however, lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
On the half-hour mark, the Brazilian delighted those present with some deft footwork to run into space but the alert Jonathan Azzopardi dived at his feet to avert danger.
Elton then wriggled free of two defenders in the Rabat box to fashion a chance from a tight position but Azzopardi closed the angle.
The match became more phyiscal and just before half-time, Caruana sent Elton crashing following a Tarxien venture inside the Rabat half.
The free-kick was awarded in perfect Pedrinho territory but instead of a shot he delivered a perfect ball to Jamie Pace who slotted home from inside the six-yard box.
Rabat upped the pace on the restart and the momentum swung back in the Magpies’ direction.
Felice stormed clear, rounded Tabone but was thwarted by a timely Camilleri block.
The Balzan keeper palmed away Azzopardi’s shot and from the corner, the ball dropped to Felice but his headed attempt hit the bar.
On 67 minutes, Muster was allowed a free header from an Azzopardi cross but his effort went agonisingly out.
Vella had very few options at his disposal on the bench so he introduced young striker Chris Vella with 19 minutes to go.
Pedrinho remained a constant thorn in Rabat’s side though and should have doubled his side’s lead but Azzopardi made a crucial intervention to thrawt the Balzan man with the aid of the post.
However, four minutes from time Balzan made the points safe.
Pedrinho advanced towards the byline on the left before laying an inviting cross for Elton who buried the ball home.
Rabat Ajax: J. Azzopardi-6, G. Gesualdi-5, I. Carapic-5.5, J. Caruana-6, J. Felice-6, M. Fuster-7, D. Falzon-6, C. Brincat-6, Y. Cauchi-5.5, D. Azzopardi-6.5, C. Gauci-5.5 (71 C. Vella).
Balzan: F. Tabone-7, M. Licari-5 (53 J.D. Borg-5), Y. Camilleri-6.5, S. Giglio-6, Renato-6, M. Mendy-5, J. Pace-6, M. Deanov-6, C. Caruana-5 (56 A. Agius-5), Pedrinho-8, Elton-7 (89 M. Borg).
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Deanov, J. Caruana.
BOV Player of the match: Pedrinho (Balzan)