Valletta McDonalds     5     San Giljan Crystal Fimance     7

(2-2, 1-2, 2-2, 0-1)

San Giljan made it to the Knock-Out final after beating the strong opposition put up by a resilient Valletta side, who lasted the pace till the last stages of the match. The Citizens gave in after they grew visibly tired, and San Giljan made sure of the result in the closing stages.

This was the Saints' third victory over Valletta this season, but this was the closest game yet. Valletta opted for Dean Camilleri in goal, instead of Ryan Sciortino. They went in front with a Gergely Kiss strike, with Keith Galea replying for the Saints. Kiss again put Valletta in front, this time with a penalty throw, and San Giljan were level again before the end of the session, with a Guillermo Molina goal.

In the next period it was Molina once more, and then Paul Fava, who put the Saints on a double advantage. Valletta pulled a goal back, from Michael Rizzo, and at the interval San Giljan were on a slim 4-3 advantage.

After the break the Saints again established a two-goal lead through Aurelien Cousin, but the Citizens came right back into the match with a brace of goals from Djorde Filipovic to tie the score. Towards the end of the session San Giljan obtained a man-up situation, and in the resulting action a second Valletta player was sent off, keeper Dean Camilleri, with Matthew Zammit shooting into an empty net, to give San Giljan a 6-5  advantage. Camilleri was then sent off for protests, his place taken by Sciortino.

In the last quarter Valletta were unable to reproduce their former game, and San Giljan had it easier, but they missed two more man ups, before Paul Fava could ease their minds with his second strike from a third man-up of the session.  There was no Valletta reaction, and the Saints went into the final, where they will meet their near neighbours, and holders, Neptunes.

Valletta: D. Camilleri, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo 1, K. Galea , A. Agius , R. Mock ,G. Kiss 2, N. Bonello Ghio , M. Cordina , C. Zammit , D. Paolella ,D. Filipovic 2, R. Sciortino

San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg , A. Galea , B. Vapenski , G. Molina 2,M. Zammit 1, K. Galea 1, Da. Zammit , B. Plumpton , A. Cousin 1, P. Fava 2,  Di. Zammit , D. Spiteri

Referees: R. Spiteri, F. Brasiliano

 

BOV 1 Div. League

Comeback gives M'Scala the spoils and sole leadership

Ta Xbiex Amigos     9     M'Scala Nutrition Empire     11

(2-1, 4-2, 3-4, 0-4)

Ta Xbiex went out of the running in the league title stakes, when they were beaten by a M'Scala side, who came from behind, to upset their opponents, and regain the three point advantage they had, over M'Xlokk, who will remain their only challengers.Ta Xbiex had Keith Grima Scott who stayed out of the water, to lead his side, and they began well enough, to twice go in front, in the openin g session. Then it was M'Scala who twice tied the score in the next period, only for Ta Xbiex to forge strobgly in front again, with a three goal run, the last two from Adam maklari, as they led on a solid 6-3 advantage at the interval.

After the break Ayrton Camenzuli, increased his side's lead, to a maximum 7-3 score. The Skalin then began their comeback. Goals by their two foreigners brought them closer. the two sides then shared four goals, as Ta Xbiex went into the last session on a 9-7 advantage. The last minutes were dominated by M'Scala, as the Ta Xbiex tired out, and were left with no ideas. M'Scala first drew level, and there was time enough, with three minutes remaining for them to go in front for the first time, and then make sure of the result with another goal.

Both Bela Torok and Matyas Pasztor scored hat tricks for M'Scala, and Ayrton Camenzuli did the same for Ta Xbiex, as they dropped out of the reckoning.

Ta Xbiex: J. Micallef, A. Maklari 2, A. Camenzuli 3, G. Attard , M. Kallay 1,K. Mock 2, J. Galea , K. Debattista . M. Mifsud ,G. Debono ,A. Mifsud , L. Pace , E. Gravina 1

M'Scala: K. Schembri, JC Cutajar 2, B. Dougall , C. Bonello 1, B. Torok 3, L. Grixti , K. Navarro , J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef , M. Pasztor 3,D. Cassar 1, C. Mifsud ,  M. Pace

Referees: P. Balzan, L. Barletta

Div. 1 Standings

M'Scala Nutrition Empire    25

M'Xlokk Fischer                   22

Ta Xbiex Amigos                 18

Otters Nivea                           0