Ajax well on the way to top-flight status

Melita 1 Rabat Ajax 4 Rabat Ajax are now a win away ( if Ħamrun beat Floriana on Sunday) from safeguarding their top-flight status after finally breaking their jinx against now-relegated Melita. The Ajax served notice of their intent to attack, when inside the opening 10 minutes, Joseph Caruana’s effort did not find any takers as it flashed across the goal. Four minutes later, Negrin unleashed a dipping shot that sailed just over the bar. But their best chance fell to the Spaniard  after 25 minutes when Pendas’s surge into the box was halted by the sliding Alhinho. Negrin’s shot  from the ensuing penalty but his tame shot was touched away by Schranz. Unperturbed by Negrin’s penalty miss, the Ajax kept pressing for the opener. On the half hour mark, Negrin’s terrific effort finished just off the post. Moments later,  Pendas’s low drive was pushed away by the diving Schranz.  But Melita’s reprieve was temporary as Ivan Tufegzic got a slight touch on Pendas’s heel to block his run into the box, prompting Adrian Azzopardi to order a penalty, the second in the game for Rabat. Few eyebrows were raised when Negrin went to assume responsibility of the second spot-kick but this time, the...