SLIEMA FRANK SALT VALLETTA IZIBET 15-8 (4‑3), (3‑2), (2‑1), (6‑2)
Dejan Savic might be satisfied with the three points but not with the whole per‐ formance of the team. Sliema Frank Salt defeated Valletta Izibet but not before having to work more than expected. Although they weren’t sharp enough in front of goal, Valletta had a positive performance including goalkeeper Benji Busuttil.The only negative notes for Valletta were the occasions missed during crucial mo‐ ments of the game and the red card of their coach Joe Cremona with only nine seconds left till the end of the match. Cremona lamented several times against the decision making by the referees especially in the third session.
After a slow start, Sliema gained a three‐ goal advantage, but Ivan Nagaev scored twice in a few seconds to cut the gap to 3‐2. Elijah Schembri doubled the advantage for Sliema but Jayden Cassar responded for Valletta after a well‐planned man‐up.
Nagaev equalised in the second session from penalty and at that point, Valletta had several opportunities to take the lead but even missed a penalty through Andrija Vla‐ hovic.
Sliema snapped and scored three goals in a space of a minute and a half. Many thought that now it would be one‐way traffic for them, but a goal from man‐up by Nagaev kept Valletta close to their opponents.
Joe Cremona’s team could have clawed an‐ other goal in the beginning of the third session but failed to take the opportunity and after the goals by Dino Zammit and Zach Mizzi a 9‐5 scoreline made it more the difficult for the Citizens. Kieyan Borg reduced the margin in the last minute from man‐up and gave Valletta a lifeline heading into the last session.
The early goal by from man‐up by Jayden Cutajar paved the way for Sliema as a brace by Liam Galea added the advantage for Sliema to 12‐6 with half a session left. Val‐ letta were more subject to counterattacks and discipline in defence. Sliema capitalised, scoring three times in the last three minutes between the goals by Borg and Na‐ gaev for Valletta.
Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea (3), J. Gambin (1), Z. Mizzi (2), B. Cachia (1), J. Cutajar (1), M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, D. Kholod (3), A. Prlainovic (1), D. Zammit (1), A. Bugeja, E. Schembri (1), S. Engerer (1)
Valletta: B. Busuttil, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Rizzo, J. Cassar (1), S. Busuttil, A. Vlahovic, D. Paolella, I. Nagaev (5), S. Micallef, A. Agius, K. Borg (2), K. Cremona, A. Theuma, M. De‐ marco, J. Chircop
Referees: Alessandro Cavallini, Ronnie Spiteri
EXILES WELBEE’S 19 TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS 7 (3‑2), (5‑0), (8‑3), (3‑2)
Exiles: M. Castillo, Z. Cutajar Licari (2), Z. Micallef, V. Gallo (5), G. Molina (1), S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech (1), K. Griscti (2), N. Paris, M. Martellacci (3), M. Aquilina (3), N. Saliba (2), F. Buhagiar, N. Burlin, L. Purse‐ house
Ta’ Xbiex: M. Vassallo, N. Schiavone, L. Montebello Brownrigg, L. Grech Carr, K. Grech, R. Mock, J. Saliba, K. Milakovic, U. Vasic, J. Culic, Z. Bartolo, J. Farrugia, G. Galea Curmi, M. Ortoleva, K. Agius
Referees: Alessandro Cavallini, Richard Magri
OTTERS NIVEA BARRACUDAS 18-11 (4‑2), (4‑4), (5‑1), (5‑4)
Otters: M. Xerri, M. Bonnici (1), K. Scicluna, D. Dimech (2), M. Meli (3), R. Grosz (2), I. Azzopardi (1), S. Dimech, L. Dimech (3), J. Saric (4), M. Farrugia, A. Dimech (2), M. Grech, K. Micallef
Barracudas: I. Schembri, A. Piccione, A. Magri, P. Micallef (1), D. Ciantar (1), R. Sciortino (1), I. Gusarov (4), R. Latinovic (2), C. Bugeja, S. Apap, A. Mifsud (1), T.J. Mifsud, M. Borg, P. Caruana Turner, T. Perici Fer‐ rante
Referees: Vittorio Frauenfelder, Stefan Licari