Malta 6
Slovakia 11
(2-3, 1-4, 3-2, 0-2)
Malta suffered the fourth consecutive defeat at the LEN European Championship finals in Barcelona on Sunday as Karl Izzo's boys were beaten 6-11 by Slovakia in a match for placings 13 to 16.
The Maltese now meet Turkey in their final encounter to try and avoid the bottom placing.
Turkey were also on the receiving end yesterday as they suffered a 15-10 defeat against Georgia.
The two matches for placings 13 to 16 are to be played on on Tuesday. Malta faces Turkey for the 15-16th placings, while Georgia face Slovakia for 13th and 14th placings.
Malta were very much in the match during the first session which ended 3-2 in favour of Slovakia. In the second session, Slovakia took command as they won it comfortably 4-1 to take a 3-7 lead.
In the third session, Malta fought bravely and managed to reduce the deficit by a goal after winning it 3-2 (6-9), but Slovakia made sure of their victory in the final session which they won 2-0 for a final score of 6-11.
In the first session, Lukas Durik gave Slovakia the lead and Tomas Bielik added a second before Ben Plumpton pulled one back for Malta. Durik again scored for Slovakia, but Steven Camilleri scored for Malta before the end of the session to make it a close 3-2 for Slovakia.
In the second session, Juraj Zatovic gave Slovakia a 4-2 lead before Durik scored again to make it 5-2. Jeremy Abela hit one back for Malta but Martin Kolarik quickly re-established Slovakia's 3-goal lead (3-6). Before the end of the session, Samuel Balaz scored Slovakia's 7th goal.
Malta's best was seen in the third session, despite Kolarik making it 3-8. Matthew Zammit scored a goal for Malta for a 4-8 scoreline, starting a partial revival. Aurelien Cousin made it 5-8 but the Slovakians hit back to make it a four-goal deficit (5-9) through Maros Tkac before Matthew Zammit scored another for Malta before the end of the session, making the scoreline 6-9 in favour of Slovakia.
But the Maltese suffered again at the start of the final session as Martin Kolarik converted a penalty. Slovakia's final goal was scored by Zatovic.
Malta: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, A. Galea, J. Abela (1), M. Spiteri Staines, M. Zammit (2), S. Camilleri (1), J. Camilleri, B. Plumpton (1), A. Cousin (1), N. Bugelli, D. Zammit, J. Tanti.
Slovakia: T. Hoferica, L. Vidumansky, J. Zatovic (2), M. Uradnik, L. Durik (3), P. Tkac, Maros Tkac (1), Marek Tkac, T. Bielik (1), M. Caraj, M. Kolarik (3), S. Balaz (1), M. Laciak.
Referees: Mercier Benjamin (France), Santos Luis (Portugal).