RABAT WIN DIRECT CLASH FROM THE RED ZONE

Gozo FC...................1          (R. Buttigieg 10’)

S. Sultana, P.P. Buttigieg, C. Hili (C. Sciortino), A. Portelli, J. Buttigieg, J. Portelli, J. Meilaq, R. Buttigieg, K. Mercieca (M. Cordina), J. Vella, J. Cefai (B. Meilak).

Rabat FC ................ 2          (J. Caruana 15’, C. Scembri 69’)

J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, A. Smeir, D. Galea (L. Portelli), D. Falzon, A. Wingfield (A. Zahra), E. Muscat, C.J. Tonna (M. Micallef), D. Azzopardi.

  Rabat Ajax came out of the Gozo Stadium with three precious points obtained from their direct clash against Gozo.  The two teams did not have a positive start to the campaign and are trying to win as many points as possible in their struggle to avoid the drop.  The match was quite interesting.  It was quite balanced for the first hour of play, but the visitors took full command of the pitch inn the remaining half hour and ended up clinching a deserved win.

  The hosts came out more aggressive and imposed some pressing on their opponents.  Gozo also managed to take an early lead, through a header in the 10^th minute by Rodney Buttigieg following a cross by Jason Portelli.  The visitors soon recovered from the difficult moments and levelled the score five minutes later through a close ranged header by Joseph Caruana who converted a header by Dylan Falzon following a corner kick by Carmel Tonna.

  Play now became more balanced and Gozo were dangerous on 24 minutes through a direct free kick by Jason Portelli that was turned in corner with difficulty by goalie Jonathan Azzopardi.  Two minutes later Gozo’s defender Josmar Vella saved his goal when he cleared off Darren Galea who was concluding a fine move by Adam Smeir. 

  In the 35^th minute a shot from the edge of the area by Rabat’s Joseph Caruana missed the target and six minutes later Rabat’s goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi went up to the edge of his area to block on Gozo’s skipper Anthony Portelli.  Two minutes from half time a header by Gozo’s Charlie Hili from a free kick by Jason Portelli ended wide.

  Play continued to be balanced after the break.  In the 47^th minute a free kick by Rabat’s Adam Smeir was well saved by goalie Steve Sultana.  One minute later Gozo were unlucky when a lob from outside the area by Kenneth Merceica following a through pass by Jason Portelli hit the crossbar.  In the 51^st minute Carmel Tonna connected badly to an inviting cross from the right by Adam Smeir.  The visitors were again dangerous on 62 minutes through a long ranged strike by substitute Alan Zahra that was turned in corner with difficulty by goalie Steve Sultana. 

  Rabat increased some pressure as time passed by and turned the result in their favour on 69 minutes when goalie Sultana punched a long ranged free kick by Caruana and Christopher Schembri took the loose ball and fired in goal from an angled position.  Gozo continued to suffer pressure as the visitors increased their confidence and administered play with authority.

  They also could have added more goals as they created good scoring opportunities through Smeir and Zahra.  In the 81^st minute the hosts were reduced to ten players when Jason Portelli was sent off for retaliation.  Gozo could have saved the result in the 5^th minute of stoppage time but two consecutive shots following a corner action by substitute Brian Meilak and Jeffrey Meilak were blocked by the defence.

Referee: Thomas Debono