Serbia-Malta 20-2

(6-0, 5-1, 4-1, 5-0)

As expected, Malta today succumbed to a heavy defeat in its second outing in the European Waterpolo Championships, a competition Malta is taking part in for the first time.

Karl Izzo’s boys lost heavily to world and European champions Serbia, hosts of the event, with the score of 20-2 i9n a match that was one-way traffic all throughout.

Serbia, who had beaten Croatia 13-6 in the first match, were already two goals up in the first minute of the game, and added four more till the end of the session, the goals scored by Nikic (2), Filipovic, Prlanovic, Cuk and Randjelovic for a 6-0 partial score.

Malta found it extremely hard to attack against the tight press adopted by the Serbians, but forced two man-up situations which were however not converted. At the other end, slick passing in the five-metre area often freed a Serbian player to shoot with little opposition.

(Malta's Steve Camilleri scores one of his two goals against Serbia)

Serbia kept up the pressure in the second quarter, often not allowing the Maltese side to complete their attack within the 30 seconds allotted. But Malta managed to score its first goal, Steve Camilleri netting a penalty after a foul in the five metre area against Matthew Zammit.

Still, Serbia scored five more goals in this session through Prlanovic, Gocic (2), Filipovic and Aleksic for an 11-1 score at the change of ends.

The Serbians slowed down in the third session, sometimes resorting to some spectacular play to the delight of the packed arena. They scored four times in these eight minutes through Mandic (2), Pijetlovic and Nikic, while Steve Camilleri replied for Malta in a man-up situation.

The last session was a pure formality as the Serbians extended their advantage by another five goals through Pijetlovic, Prljanovic, Mandic and Nikic (2).

Malta scored only once from the five opportunities gained.

Malta’s team was made up of the following players:

Alan Borg Cole, Nikki Lanzon, Jerome Gabarretta, Nicholas Bugelli, Mark Meli, Matthew Zammit, Stevie Camilleri, Jordan Camilleri, John Brownrigg, Aurelien Cousin, Ben Plumpton, Dino Zammit, Nicky Grixti.