Malta-Turkey 12-13 (after penalty shootout)
(1-3, 1-2, 2-0, 3-2) (penalty shootout 5-6)
It ended with another penalty shootout, and this time it was the Turks who won.
Malta and Turkey finished their game – valid for the 15th place of the European waterpolo championships – on a 7-7 draw. A penalty shootout was needed to determine the winner and Turkey had the better of the Maltese
Two years ago, Malta had emerged victorious in a similar scenario, after the match had ended 10-10. This time, the penalty shootout favoured the Turks. After the first set of penalties were all scored by the 10 players – five for each side – Spiteri Staines missed for Malta for the Turks to celebrate their victory.
Malta have only themselves to blame. Karl Izzo’s boys missed too many man-up occasions and, in the first half of the game appeared flustered and disorganised, allowing the Turks to take a steady lead. Matters improved after the change of ends as Malta clawed their way back and even took the lead twice in the last quarter, but they were always pegged back.
Malta played without Dino Zammit, who was unfit for the game after his shoulder was dislocated in the match against France last Friday, while regular goalkeeper Griscti was also not fully fit for the game and replaced by Jake Tanti. But this is no alibi, as the Maltese side did not live up to the expectations. Inaccuracy in front of goal, especially in cases of numerical superiority, as well as poor defending on several occasions put Malta in arrears early, were by and large the reasons for Malta’s defeat.
It is a step back from two years ago, given that Malta had finished in 15th place. One hopes that the experienced gained by many youngsters will serve in future appearances.
Malta had a terrible start to the game. Karl Izzo’s boys appeared disorganised in both attack and defence and the more disciplined Turks were quick to take advantage, building a 3-0 lead with goals from Ozbek, Biyik and Sonmez.
Malta fought back with two Matthew Zammit goals, but the Turks restored their three-goal lead by the end of the second quarter, the goals coming from Sonmez and Ozbek. Malta kept missing their man-up situations while the Turks had a better score from occasions of numerical supremacy.
The third quarter was the best part of the game for Malta, as the team seemed to settle and reduced the distance with two goals from Bugelli and Cousin. In between, however, Matthew Zammit was fouled out and this further depleted the Maltese side.
The last session started with Malta 5-4 in arrears, but Bugelli and Andreas Galea turned the score around and gave Malta the lead for the first time. Yilmaz made the score 6-6 and, with Bugelli also fouled out, it was Steve Camilleri who gave Malta the lead again at 7-6 with 90 seconds to go. But Turkey earned a penalty which was converted by Ozbek, and this took the game to a penalty shootout, which Malta lost.