Easy win helps Mqabba hold on to second spot
Mqabba had a difficult start against bottom of the table side Rabat Ajax, but in the end they cruised through to an easy victory to maintain the second position in the table at the end of the first round.
For Rabat this 11th defeat of the season leaves them firmly at the bottom with practically no chance to save their status at the end of the season.
The first half was a boring affair with Mqabba unable to lift their play above mediocrity.
On their part Rabat roamed in their own half and rarely ventured forward.
Mqabba’s only attempts came through a Michael Borg freekick and an effort from Luke Vella Critien. Just before the break, Mqabba broke the deadlock when Gaetano Gesualdi scored from close range following a corner.
Five minutes into the second half, Brandon Muscat was floored by Zachary Tanti and from the penalty spot, Paul Chimezie made no mistake.
Four minutes later Mqabba sealed off the match with a third goal when Mandic had a good run on the right flank and crossed towards Paul Chimezie who fired home from close range.
On 65 minutes Mqabba went close again with the Rabat goalkeeper making two outstanding saves off shots from Chimezie and Michael Borg, and two minutes later on the other end, Wayne Borg was unlucky when he hit the crossbar.
Rabat A: A. Zammit, A. Azzopardi (N. Formosa 83 min), R. Micallef, S. Gauci, S. Abela, D. Falzon, W. Borg, K. Muscat (L. Vella 77 min), Z. Tanti, N. Caruana, J. Caruana.
Mqabba: J. Debono, N. Ojuola, M. Borg, G. Gesualdi (S. Darmanin 79 min), B. Muscat, K. Cutajar, P. Chimezie, R. Mandic, C. Cutajar (K. Azzopardi 75 min), L. Vella Critien (A. Scicluna 68 min), S. Buhagiar.
Referee: Glenn Tonna