Vittoriosa Stars 1
Rabat Ajax 0

Vittoriosa Stars are floating in safer waters after beating Rabat Ajax who are still in relegation trouble and only six points above third-bottom side San Ġwann.

Rabat were without regular Jamie Azzopardi, suspended, but in young stand-in Andrew Zammit they have a keeper for the future.

They created the first opening when Chiedozie was denied by keeper James Mercieca after being put through by Joseph Caruana.

The Stars hit back with a Gianluca Sultana shot that rolled just inches wide. Zammit then came to Rabat’s rescue when he stopped Sultana’s effort from close in.

Rabat missed a sitter when Chris Vella released Aidan Azzopardi but he shot badly from in front of goal.

The pace slowed after the break but the Stars had a good chance to open the score when Miljan Milivojev darted through but his shot was stopped in style by Zammit.

However, Richard Mercieca’s side scored the goal that mattered 20 minutes from time thanks to Duncan Pisani. He hit home from a Milivojev cross.

Rabat tried hard to avoid defeat and a Wayne Borg grounder from just outside the area was blocked by the Stars keeper.

Chiedozie also tried his luck from the distance but his shot was slightly off target. Late on, David Azzopardi’s header found Mercieca on the right spot to save and preserve the Stars’ one-goal lead.

Vittoriosa: J. Mercieca, R. Previ, J. Camilleri, A. Galea, P. Mrvic, D. Fava, M. Barbara (C. Spiteri), M. Lukic, G. Sultana (A. Carabott), M. Milivojev, D. Pisani.

Rabat: A. Zammit, N. Caruana, S. Abela (A. Smeir), J. Caruana, S. Gauci, B. Micallef, C. Vella (W. Borg), L. Chiedozie, A. Azzopardi, D. Azzopardi, Z. Tanti.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Best player: Miljan Milivojev (Vittoriosa Stars).