Sirens-Valletta 14-19 (3-5, 4-3, 3-6, 4-5)

Valletta Izibet confirmed their status as one of the best four teams this summer. After qualifying to the league play-offs, they again defeated Sirens, this time in a knock-out. Today they will face a difficult task against San Ġiljan JP Projects in the semi-final.

Sirens again failed to shine in a direct clash in what wasn’t surely a splendid summer for them. They need to get to the drawing board again as for another game, one of their foreigners, namely Pietro Figlioli, didn’t finish the game.

Valletta gained the upperhand from the beginning and practically were always in the lead. Andrija Vlahovic and Ivan Nagaev gave them a double advantage after two minutes of play. Nagaev started his show as he scored three consecutive penalties, but Sirens reacted to stay in the game.

Midway through the second session, Valletta built what seemed a comfortable 8-4 lead. That was only until they missed two man-up situations while Sirens took advantage. Goals by Gabriel Melillo and a brace by Italian Pietro Figlioli cut the deficit to only a goal.

The game turned on its head and Sirens even equalised through Gianni Farrugia in the beginning of the third session.

But few seconds later Figlioli was excluded for a third personal foul and later was sent-off from the bench.

Valletta took advantage and regained their four-goal cushion with goals from Nagaev, Vlahovic twice and Daniel Paolella. Sirens responded twice to reduce the margin, but Valletta were sharp enough to end the session four goals ahead.

Matyas Pasztor kept Sirens hoping for an improbable comeback. Their hopes were shortlived as Nagaev and Jayden Cassar secured the win for Valletta while veteran Stephen Micallef sealed the win late in the game.

Sirens: T. Micallef, P. Serracino (1), K. Erdogan, P. Figlioli (3), J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia (1), M. Chircop (2), G. Melillo (1), M.

Cutajar, M. Pasztor (4), M. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi (1), M. Bonello Dupuis, J. Cachia (1), G. Sammut

Valletta: B. Busuttil, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Rizzo, J. Cassar (1), S. Busuttil (1), A. Vlahovic (4), D. Paolella (1), I. Nagaev (10), S. Micallef (1), A. Agius, K. Borg, K. Cremona, A. Theuma, M. Demarco, J. Chircop (1)

Referees: Arnaldo Petronilli, Massimo Angileri

Comfortable qualification for Neptunes

NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS 18 MARSASKALA ESC 7 (3-1), (5-5), (5-1), (5-0)

Neptunes Videoslots set up a semi-final showdown against Sliema Frank Salt after cruising to victory against Marsaskala ESC. The qualification was expected by Dorian Pisani’s team as they always held control of the game.

This game meant the end of the season for Marsaskala but also the end of Paul Privitera’s career. The veteran, who turned 50 this year, decided to finish his brilliant career, this time for good, after he came back from retirement.

Privitera, a two-time ASA Player of the Year, enjoyed his best years of his career with Sirens and Sliema.

Filip Filipovic, Jordan Camilleri, and Sam Gialanze all scored in the first session to give Neptunes a 3-0 lead until Gianluca Galea scored exactly at the end of the session to pull a goal back.

Neptunes stretched their lead to 7-3 during the second session until a reaction by Marsaskala resulted in three goals scored by Edoardo Manzi to cut the deficit to only 8-6.

Neptunes stepped up their rhythm in the third session and secured the win. Jake Muscat and Gialanze scored in the beginning of the session, Mark Carani responded for Marsaskala, but Alec Fenech, Stevie Camilleri and Muscat made it 13-7.

Despite having a six-goal lead, Neptunes continued to enlarge the win during the last period. Jake Muscat shined with a brace as Neptunes scored five with no reply.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat (4), S. Gialanze (2), G. Pace, M. Castillo, J. Bajada, S. Camilleri (4), J. Camilleri (2), A. Ivovic (1), F. Filipovic (3), A. Fenech (1), E. Mallia (1), M. Rossi, D. Bugeja, A. Fava

Marsaskala: A. Muscat, J.C. Cutajar, G. Galea (1), P. Privitera, R. Greco, E. Manzi (3), K. Navarro, D. Tully, D. Pace Lupi, G. Sammut, J. Pace Mizzi, M. Carani (1), J. Micallef, T. Sedlmayerm (2), F. Scardino

Referees: Attilio Paoletti, Alex de Raffaele