SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST......13
EXILES JETFREIGHT.................7
(4-0), (2-3), (4-2), (3-2)
League leaders San Ġiljan Tum Invest avoided surprises as they defeated Exiles Jetfreight with a six-goal margin in a match where they had the control practically from start to finish. This result meant that they edged closer to clinch their 10th championship having a huge 12-point lead over Neptunes and Sliema with six games till the end.
San Ġiljan were looking to take the game in hand from the start, and did so by winning the first session 4-0, as Exiles found it difficult to handle the pressure by their opponents.
Marko Orlovic’s team even had an advantage of 6-1 with two minutes left in the second session, but two quick goals gave Exiles a slim hope of an unlikely comeback.
(Photos Domenic Aquilina)
After the break, Exiles were looking to reduce the margin and Michele Stellini made it 6-4 with a typical left hand shot. Dino Zammit scored for San Ġiljan but immediately Slobodan Nikic made it 7-5.
Dorian Pisani’s team even had the chance of making it 7-6, but San Ġiljan accelerated their pace and scored a minute later by Andreas Galea, and Ben Plumpton and Aurelien Cousin sealed the win with two goals in the last minute, for a five-goal margin.
The last session kept its rhythm as San Ġiljan kept controlling the game despite that Orlovic continued to rotate the team.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea (1), B. Grech (1), J. Galea, M. Zammit, B. Plumpton (4), Da. Zammit, A. Ivovic (2), A. Cousin (1), P. Fava, Di. Zammit (3), T. Micallef
Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, D. Borg Millo, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (1), S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic (3), K. Griscti, N. Paris (2), A. Bianchi, B. Lanzon, L. Felice, G. Ciappara
Referees: Carmelo Polimeni, Peter Balzan
Otters recover a three-goal deficit
OTTERS NIVEA............8
BIRŻEBBUĠA ASC.......8
(2-3), (2-3), (2-2), (2-0)
Two goals in the last session saved a point for Otters Nivea as they finished 8-8 against Birżebbuġa. Both teams had their say in the match and all in all it was a fair result. But one of the main differences in the game, was that Birżebbuġa had to play more than two sessions without their foreigner and main scorer Sergi Mora. But despite that, Birżebbuġa still played and were close to a win, but they had to satisfy with their first draw of the league.
Marco Risso’s team took a three-goal advantage in the first session, but Otters’ reaction resulted in two goals by Marko Jelaka and veteran Charlie Zammit. Otters managed to equalise twice in the game and also had the advantage after Mora was sent-off for passing remarks to the referee. This decision seemed to stimulate Birżebbugia as they scored twice from David Pace Lupi and Neil Cassar to finish the second session 6-4 ahead.
Otters tried to close the gap after the break and they did so with a goal by Gabriel Mizzi, but a brace by Andrew Sammut gave Birżebbuġa a good cushion. But despite that, they failed to control the game enough, as Meli scored in the third session, and the equalising goal after a gowl in between by Jelaka. In the end both teams had the opportunity to score the winning goal, with the game also ending with protests from Birżebbugia, but the final whistle saw both teams taking a point.
Otters: M. Xerri, M. Borg Millo, A. Magri, L. Hyzler, E. Meli (3), D. Dimech, G. Mizzi (1), M. Jelaka (3), C. Zammit (1), M. Borg, C. Teuma, J. Sammut
Birżebbuġa: D. Abela, M. Manara, S. Mora (1), D. Pace Lupi (1), A. Camenzuli, A. Sammut (2), S. Vassallo (2), N. Cassar (1), G. Farrugia, M. Caruana (1), K. Gauci, O. Zammit, D. Spiteri
Referees: Carmelo Polimeni, Alex De Raffaele
