Malta’s earnest attempts to topple Poland (who lost 5-10 to Slovenia a day before) proved futile as the Poles showed more mettle in the water, especially in the latter stages of the match when they made sure of victory as Malta’s concentration started facing certain flaws.

Anthony Farrugia’s side were surely disappointed for having missed two penalties (out of three) in the early staged of the match which was then still open and quite balanced.

This result means that now Malta will place in the 15th-16th classification game (today at 10.15am) when they face Belarus. The latter yesterday lost 10-8 in extra time (after also leading 5-0 earlier in the game) against Romania after a 7-7 score after regular time. Belarus are, just like Malta, also searching for their first win in these championships although they had a tight 9-8 loss against Poland in the group stage.

Coming back to the game against Poland, Malta managed to forge ahead when Jordan Camilleri beat Domagala in the Polish goal.

Ulchurski replied when he got his first of a personal hat-trick when he converted a penalty shortly afterwards. The same player made it 2-1 before the first session’s end.

Malta missed an opportunity to equalise early in the second session when Jerome Gabaretta won a penalty but the same player then missed the resultant 5-metre free shot.

The local side paid dearly for this miss as Ulchurski registered his third strike of the day for 3-1.

However Malta fought back bravely and brought the score at par midway in the game after Ryan Mock scored a penalty and Andrea Agius netted a 6 metre shot.

The third session was a tactical affair. The Poles regained the lead through Szymanski and then Malta won the third penalty in the game. This time it was Timmy Agius who took responsibility but his shot did not materialise in a goal.

Poland pressed hard to close the game in the final session but Joseph Sammut (helped also by the post at times) thwarted their initial efforts.

Klajic broke away early in the 5th minute and made it 5-3. A blatant Malta turnover led to a Polish break where Camilleri was then excluded. Here Poland increased their lead through Michalski.

Gabaretta instilled some fresh hope in the local side when he scored with a nice back-hand from the centre but another Michalski strike, just 24 seconds after with a delicate 7 metre diagonal lob, ascertained the Polish victory.

The game ended with Szymanski's brace, just 6 seconds from time, on a 3 v 2 counter break with the local players renouncing from covering back.

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

Poland: Domagala, Piotrusiak, Turowski, Derlatka, Szymanski 2, Ulchurski 3, Michalski 2, Mic. Bar, Piatek, Klajic 1, Mar. Bar, Harasimiuk, Baczkowski.

Refs: Delon (France), Rozman (Slovakia)