Neptunes Leo Vegas   7

S. Giljan TUM Invest   9

(1-3), (2-3), (3-2), (1-1)

A strong signal by San Giljan Tum Invest as they won the second honour of the year, with a deserved win against Neptunes Leo Vegas. San Giljan had already won the winter league.

Marko Orlovic’s team held the initiative for most of the game and they were a step ahead of their opponents.

Aleksandar Ivovic had a positive debut for San Giljan, scoring a hat-trick and leading the team in the pitch.

On the other hand, Neptunes coach Zoran Maslovar tried to limit the damage of his opponents, but the depth in the squad of San Giljan proved to be too much in this early stage of the season.

Stevie Camilleri returned for Neptunes while their foreigner, Romain Blary, had a quiet game as he was well marked by Ivovic.

Cousin, Ivovic and Dino Zammit put San Giljan 3-1 ahead in the first session, and despite Neptunes improving in the second session, the saints still managed to finish the second session 6-3 in the lead.

The game looked to be heading in San Giljan’s way. But Neptunes had other plans as they scored three times to reduce the gap only to just one goal, with San Giljan scoring only from a penalty by Ivovic.

Orlovic seemed to be worried as Neptunes managed to put his team in difficulty at that moment, but captain Matthew Zammit made sure that his team started the last session with a two-goal cushion.

Dino Zammit scored an early goal in the last session to secure the win, as Neptunes could only score once through Jordan Camilleri.

At the end of the game, ASA General Secretary Rita Azzopardi and Vice President Karl Galea presented the medals and the winning trophy to San Giljan captain Matthew Zammit.

Before the game, Stevie Camilleri was presented with the 2016 ASA Player of the Year award by ASA Vice President Karl Galea.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (1), T. Agius, K. Erdogan, R. Blary (1), S. Gravina, S. Camilleri (2), J. Camilleri (2), J. Abela (1), M. Zammit, J. Culic, M. Azzopardi, I. Bugeja

San Giljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg, A. Galea, T. Said, J. Galea, M. Zammit (2), B. Plumpton, D. Zammit, A. Ivovic (3), A. Cousin (2), P. Fava, D. Zammit (2), T. Micallef

Referees: Mario Dalli, Federico Braghini

 

Vuksanovic gives Marsaxlokk win in extremis

 

M’Xlokk Fischer 10

M’scala Transcripta     9

(3-2), (3-3), (3-3), (1-1)

Marsaxlokk Fischer opened the 2017 season on a high as they defeated their closest rivals Marsascala Transcripta in a close encounter.

It was a match where no team had a clear upper hand as the advantage changed numerous times during the game.

This win continued the positive rhythm that Marsaxlokk started last year, winning the third consecutive honour after winning the league and the knock-out last season.

Also, this win meant a good debut for coach Roman Polacek, Matteo Cacici and Kayne Lanzon.

Marsascala entered the game as underdogs and managed to keep their performance at a par with their opponents, but the depth in their squad could have played a part. Youngster Mikhael Cutajar and Croatian Andrija Vlahovic had a positive debut.

Pierre Borg’s team started the game well and took the lead twice, but Marsaxlokk managed to end the session in front with a goal by youngster Luke Gialanze.

A goal by Rainier Scerri in the beginning of the second session gave Marsaxlokk a two-goal cushion, but Marsascala surprisingly turned the tables with three consecutive goals. M’xlokk, however, managed to finish the session in the lead thanks to goals by Gialanze and Vuksanovic.

Marsaxlokk managed to keep their goal advantage despite having to produce another comeback. Jean Claude Cutajar managed to equalise in an important moment of the game, and as things stood, the game seemed to be heading for extra time.

But Ivan Vuksanovic had other plans as he scored 86 seconds before the end of the game to give his team the win.

After the game, Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport representatives Charles Camenzuli and Antvin Monsigneur, alongside ASA Secretary General Rita Azzopardi and Vice President Karl Galea, presented the medals and the trophy to the captain Christian Gialanze.

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, M. Cacici, L. Calleja (1), K. Galea (1), C. Gialanze (1), C. Bugeja, S. Meli, I. Vuksanovic (5), R. Scerri (1), K. Lanzon, L. Gialanze (1), R. Bonnici

Marsascala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar (2), J. Busuttil (1), J. Theuma, A. Vlahovic (2), L. Grixti, K. Navarro (1), M. Cutajar (2), S. Micallef, G. Buhagiar, D. Cassar (1), A. Vella, B. Muscat

 

Referees: Riccardo Carmignani, Peter Balzan