Malta had to succumb to the powerful Greek team in the final game of the preliminary group phase. The Greeks entered the game well aware that, following Italy’s minimal win (9-8) over Spain earlier in the day, they had to win with an 18-goal margin against Malta so as to top Group B.

This aim was fully evident in the later stages of yesterday’s match as the team led by Anastasios Doumpas put great pressure on the Maltese lads and they finally reached their aim a minute from time.

However Malta had a great start as they managed to share the spoils very well in the first five minutes. In fact Malta managed to equalise twice and then were just 3-4 down early in the sixth minute.

In fact it was Peter Borg who replied to an early Gkialis strike to make it 1-1 after 55 seconds. Although Koutsialis put the Greeks back in front 20 seconds later, Anthony Farrugia’s side reacted with determination and Nikolai Lubrano got his first on the day in Malta’s subsequent offensive ploy.

The Greeks went 4-2 in the lead with Ionnis Kourliaftis starting his personal show as this star-to-be netted no less than seven goals in the match.

However Timmy Agius kept the pressure on the Greeks as the Neptunes player scored for a tight 4-3 scoreline and here the Greeks surely were fearing they would not win the group.

Greece increased the tempo and in the next 11 minutes they went on a 7-0 run but late in the second session, Sliema product Nikolai Lubrano beat Galandis in the Greek goal and thus the teams shifted ends at 11-4.

Greece dominated completely the third session as they scored eight times in a row and now were leading by 14 goals, 19-4.

The question now was whether the Greeks would reach their target. Midway in the last session they were 21-4 ahead. Koulierakis notched his hat-trick early in the 31st minute and then, a minute later, Kourliaftis crowned his day with his seventh strike (on an Agius exclusion) and Greece were home and dry. The latter put their minds at rest when they netted a late goal through Doudesis’s brace.

Today is a rest day. Malta will now play in the classification group and will face Turkey tomorrow at 12.45pm.

Malta: J. Sammut, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Manara, J. Gabarretta, T. Agius 1, R. Mock, N. Lubrano 2, K. Griscti, A. Agius, J. Camilleri, P. Borg 1, M. Pace, A. Borg Cole.

Greece: K. Galandis, K. Fotiou, P. Doudesis 2, N. Koulierakis 3, C. Koutsialis 3, N. Batakis, I. Kourliaftis 7, A. Charitakis 3, M. Petrocheilos, A. Gpunas 4, M. Gkialis 1, I. Spurou, F. Stathopoulos.

Refs: Bobkov (Belarus), Bottlik (Slovakia)

Other results:

Group A: Hungary – Slovenia 10-3; Holland – France 10-8

Group B: Italy – Spain 9-8

Group C: Serbia – Belarus 27-2; Slovakia – Poland 9-7

Group D: Montenegro – Romania 17-4; Croatia – Turkey 22-4

Group final standings:

Group A: Hungary 9, Holland 4, France 3, Slovenia 1

Group B: Greece 7, Italy 7, Spain 3, Malta 0.

Group C: Serbia 9, Slovakia 6, Poland 3, Belarus 0.

Group D: Croatia 9, Montenegro 6, Turkey 3, Romania 0.