M’Scala Breakers 19

Otters 8

(4-0, 4-4, 5-2, 6-2)

Marsascala gained a bit of morale, after their marginal league decider defeat against Exiles barely 24 hours earlier, by becoming the first finalists of the Knock-Out competition after beating modest Otters.

The southerners opened a safe 4-0 lead by the end of the first session and although the Gozitans, who were playing their last seasonal game, momentarily had Marton Toth scoring two consecutive goals, the greens quickly regained their superiority and never looked threatened.

Malcolm Fava had a field day notching five of the winner’s goals

M’Scala: I. Bugeja, J. Cachia, S. Farrugia, A. Galea 1, M. Borg Spiteri 3, S. Popovski 1, P. Fava 2, L. Grixti, S. Micallef 3, M. Fava 5, R. Cutajar 2, M. Spiteri 2, D. Ciappara.

Otters: E. Farrugia, F. Bajada, G. Zammit 2, S. Xerri, P. Cachia, Dav. Saliba, K. Mizzi 1, M. Toth 4, K. Scicluna, S. Scicluna, Dar. Saliba, P. Saliba 1, G. Xuereb.

Refs: M. Angileri, A. Deraffaele

* * *

Exiles RMF 13

Marsaxlokk Freeport 9

(4-2, 3-1, 3-2, 3-4)

Fresh from their championship celebrations a day before, Exiles survived a late scare to overcome Marsaxlokk and now face Ta Xbiex in tomorrow’s knock-out semi-final.

The new champions seemed set for an easy win after opening a 10-5 lead at the end of the second session with locals John Paris and Timmy Sulivan notching vital goals for the Sliema-based side while Edwin Junior Pisani had a brace (the first with a nice back-hand) for the southerners.

However, in the first five minutes of the last session, Marsaxlokk staged a remarkable comeback as they scored four goals in a row (scoring also their man-ups after having messed four of their initial five) with Belorussian Sergey Frolov scoring twice.

It was now a 10-9 game but this was shortlived as Exiles stung with two quick man-up goals through Paris and Sullivan respectively and then Marco Booij ascertained the win with a late goal.

Exiles: N. Imbroll, A. Borg Cole, M. Zarb 1, D. Pace Lupi 2, T. Sullivan 4, G. Buttigieg, J. Paris 3, J. Cremona, J. Tabone, S. Gravina 1, M. Booij 2, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja.

M’Xlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia 1, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, K. Grima Scott 1, C. Bugeja 1, E. Pisani 2, S. Cutajar 1, S. Frolov 2, G. Lubrano 1, D. Cassar, F. Testa, D. Debono.

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. Farrugia