Too little too late for Rabat

Rabat’s late rally proved to be too little too late as they failed to save tha match against Sirens.

The match had a rather slow start with the first attempt at goal coming halfway through when Daniel Agius tested Zammit who turned into a corner, and from the resultant corner Christian Caruana headed home.

Rabat had an immediate reaction with a Wayne Borg effort well saved by Marmara, who was again called in action to block a central Chris Vella drive. On 30 minutes a Wayne Borg effort from the edge of the area went slightly over the bar. Rabat continued to hold the initiative but failed to be dangerous in front of goal.

On the resumption play did not improve much with the first shot at goal on 73 minutes when Gio- vanni Galea was denied by the goalkeeper following a through pass from Caruana.

On 88 minutes the match looked dead and buried when Darko Medic scored the second goal for Sirens with a grounder from the edge of the area.

But Rabat made a desperate effort and pulled one back two minutes later with a good move on the left flank and a cross from Muscat towards substitute Isaac Abela who managed to squeeze the ball home from close range.

Rabat were now all over their opponents in search of a dramatic equaliser as the Sirens defence was in panic mode.

In stoppage time Sirens goalkeeper Ryan Marmara saved his side with a stunning save off a point blank effort from Chris Vella.

Rabat A: A. Zammit, G. Bugeja, C. Vella, S. Gauci, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, W. Borg, K. Muscat, V. Despotovic (B. Micallef 65 min), A. Azzopardi, S. Abela (I. Abela 83 min).

Sirens: R. Marmara, R. Previ, B. Kremenovic, D. Sant, I. Chircop (L. Zammit 33 min), J.N. Azzopardi, D. Medic, C. Caruana, D. Agius, R. Sciberras (L. Galea 71 min), G. Galea (M. Micallef 78 min).

Referee: Paul Toledo