A penalty and an own goal paved the way for a comfortable win for Mosta as they registered a second consecutive win, beating Rabat Ajax 3-0.

The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the first half but once the Blues managed to break the deadlock, they never looked back.

Therefore the Magpies remain without any points from three matches.

Rabat had no changes from the team which lost to Balzan last week as Joseph Caruana and Adam Smeir were still ruled out injured. Mosta, on the other hand, had Brazilian striker Yuri de Jesus Messias making his debut.

Rabat went close on the 9th minute with a Diego Carrillo corner which saw defender Kane Farrugia, in attempt to clear the ball into safety hitting the crossbar. Five minutes later, Malcolm Licari’s first-time effort off a cross by Diego Carrillo from the right scraped past the post. On the 18th, off a Dani Pelaez freekick, Diego Carrillo’s fine header was turned into a corner in style by Omar Borg. On the other side of the pitch, Rabat goalkeeper Pavle Velimirovic performed a good save on a freekick by Ricardinho on 22 minutes.

Ricardinho served Bojan Kaljevic on the 26th with the latter’s fine rising shot hitting the crossbar and off the rebound, the ball reached Diego Pereira whose conclusion was neutralised by Velimirovic. Yuri Messias, served by Kaljevic, had a good shot from just outside the area ending high on 37 minutes. Two minutes later, Bryan Agius almost surprised the Rabat custodian with a cross shot with the ball hitting the crossbar.

Four minutes in the second half, Moises Avila Perez concluded a good run on the left flank with a diagonal shot from the left which scraped past the post.

Mosta were awarded a penalty on the 56th minutes when David Azzopardi brought Yuri Messias down inside the area. Substitute Cristian Martins Fernandes converted from the penalty spot.

Velimirovic performed a great save on a Manolito Micallef header on 63 minutes following a Bryan Agius freekick. Four minutes later, Diego Carrillo exchanged the ball with Moises Avila Perez with the former hitting the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. On the 73rd minute, a Dani Pelaez freekick almost surprised Omar Borg with the Mosta custodian turning the ball into a corner.

Mosta sealed the issue on the 75th minute thanks to an own goal by Shaun Gauci who flicked the ball past Velimirovic in an attempt to clear the ball into safety following a cross from the right by Yuri Messias.

Six minutes from time, Mosta scored the third goal when off a cross by Diego Pereira from the left, Velimirovic palmed the ball out and Cristian Martins Fernandes headed the ball home from close range.

Rabat were reduced to ten men on the 88th when captain Dylan Falzon picked a second yellow card for a foul.

Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com

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RABAT Pavle Velimirovic, Ivan Carapic, Shaun Gauci, Diego Carrillo Pendas, Clifford Gauci, Malcolm Licari (70’ Wayne Borg), Jonathan Bajada (77′ Ryan Micallef), Dylan Falzon, Daniel Pelaez Bellido, David Azzopardi, Moises Avila Perez.
Subs not used: Jonathan Azzopardi, Zachary Tanti, Josef Tonna, Patrick Borg, Aidan Azzopardi
Coach: Steve D’Amato

MOSTA Omar Borg, Bryan Agius (69’ Mark Brincat), Tyrone Farrugia, Kane Farrugia, Manolito Micallef, Lukas Duriska, Ryan Grech (79’ Kurt Zammit), Ricardo Silva Faria, Diego Pereira, Yuri de Jesus Messias, Bojan Kaljevic (55’ Cristian Martins Fernandes).
Subs not used: Kurt Rizzo, Mark Brincat, Ishmael Grech, Giancarlo Sammut, James Brincat.
Coach: Danilo Doncic

Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Albert Borg Cardona
Additional Assistant Referees: Malcolm Spiteri, Sandro Spiteri
Fourth Official: Jurgen Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Carrillo, Carapic, Azzopardi, R. Grech, Falzon, Brincat, Micallef
Red Cards: 88’ Dylan Falzon
Scorers: 57’ Cristian Martins Fernandes pen, 75’ own goal Shaun Gauci
BOV Player of the Match: Diego Carrillo Pendas