MARSAXLOKK BROWN’S....... 10

MARSASKALA ESC................. 10

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

 

This result could have an effect on Marsaskala ESC’s season. In what sure must be considered as the first surprise of the summer, Marsaxlokk Brown’s held Marsaskala in a 10-10 draw. The result is a clear indication of how the game developed as Marsaskala started better but as the game evolved Marsaxlokk had their say on the outcome.

Two goals in the early moments of the game, seemed to pave the way for an easy win for Marsaskala. Max Zammit and Ryan Galea responded but after Mark Carani’s goal, Nikola Moskov equalised again.

The same story prolonged in the second session. Marsaskala built again a double advantage until Marsaxlokk vanished that advantage partially due to a goal by Kyle Navarro.

This goal proved only as a source of determination for Marsaxlokk in the third session. After Moskov equalised and Bence Batori put his team back in front, Moskov scored twice to put Marsaxlokk in the lead for the first time. Marsaxlokk’s number five kept his team ahead again after David Pace Lupi’s equaliser. But as if he wasn’t the protagonist of his team in this session, Moskov was red carded in the last two seconds of the session, a decision which raised some eyebrows.

The three points were up for grabs in the last session. Marsaskala had a foreigner advantage but failed to capitalise as they could only avoid a defeat through Ferenc Salamon’s goal. At the end of the match, Marsaxlokk were the most satisfied team.

Marsaxlokk: Mi. Farrugia, C. Cutajar, B. Zammit, Ma. Farrugia, N. Moskov (6), J. Valletta, M. Zammit (3), M. Aquilina, R. Galea (1), S. Misic, E. Bonnici, L. Mallia, M. Brimmer, J. Gatt, J. Pawley

Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, G. Galea, P. Privitera (1), R. Greco, F. Salamon (1), K. Navarro (1), D. Tully, D. Pace Lupi (1), G. Sammut, B. Batori (5), M. Carani (1), A. Muscat, J. Pace Mizzi, F. Scardino

Referees: Peter Balzan, Antonio Torneo

 

SIRENS................................. 13

EXILES WELBEE’S................... 6

(3-2), (5-2), (2-1), (3-1)

 

An encounter between these two teams, normally result in a balanced affair. This time, Sirens broke the norm as they found no difficulty in defeating Exiles Welbee’s. Sirens controlled the game and made sure not to make crucial mistakes that might cost them the three points.

Italian veteran Pietro Figlioli made his first start in the Maltese league while Matthias Pasztor for Sirens, Valentino Gallo and Guillermo Molina for Exiles all made their return to the local scene.

Both foreigners of Exiles scored an early goal to cancel the opener by Pasztor and the other goal by Figlioli. Pasztor kept his team ahead with a goal from a man-up situation. Both teams scored in the first minute of the second session, but Sirens’ reaction was bold enough. They managed to extend their lead to 7-3, an advantage that Exiles could not recover from as after Kurt Griscti’s goal, Pasztor replied immediately.

Niall Saliba tried to keep his team in the game until Ken Erdogan’s goal soon diminished their hopes of a possible comeback. Sirens rounded off their win by also winning the last session to claim an important win in one of the direct encounters from the Preliminary Round Group A.

Sirens: T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan (1), P. Figlioli (4), J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia (1), M. Chircop (1), J. Cachia (1), M. Cutajar, M. Pasztor (3), M. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi, M. Bonello Dupuis, G. Melillo (1), G. Sammut (1)

Exiles: M. Castillo, Z. Cutajar Licari, L. Pursehouse, V. Gallo (1), G. Molina (1), S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech (1), K. Griscti (2), N. Paris, M. Martellacci, M. Aquilina, N. Saliba (1), F. Buhagiar, M. Paris Roding

Referees: Alex de Raffaele, Arnaldo Petronilli

 

OTTERS NIVEA.................. 7

SLIEMA FRANK SALT......... 13

(1-3), (1-1), (3-4), (2-5)

 

Sliema Frank Salt started off their summer league campaign with a comfortable win against Otters Nivea. Despite not showing their full potential, Sliema were in control of the game, but Otters didn’t give up quickly.

In the absence of Dejan Savic, Ryan Coleiro led Sliema. Jamie Gambin returned in the squad after helping Polisportivo Delta to gain promotion to Serie A2 in Italy while lacked Serbian Andrija Prlainovic didn’t play actively in the match.

Sliema opened a 3-1 lead in the first session after Jovan Saric had partially equalised. Jerome Gabarretta scored a brace and Dmitrii Kholod scored the other goal. Otters, spearheaded by their foreigners Marko Jelaca and Jovan Saric, levelled their opponents in the second session. Veteran Jelaca had reduced the gap to a goal until Dmitrii Kholod kept Sliema’s two-goal cushion.

Otters even managed to equalise in the third session for the second time in the game through a brace by Jovan Saric. But Sliema switched on and Kholod, Liam Galea and Gabarretta all scored to open a 7-4 advantage. Kholod even assured his team stayed with a four-goal lead heading into the last session after Jelaca had previously reduced the margin.

Although not possessing a large advantage, Sliema’s win was never in doubt. They even had the opportunity to finish the game with a larger advantage as Jamie Gambin, Matthew Mifsud and Dino Zammit scored for a 13-7 win.

Otters: M. Xerri, M. Bonnici, K. Scicluna, D. Dimech, M. Meli, M. Jelaca (1), I. Azzopardi, S. Dimech, L. Dimech (1), J. Saric (4), M. Farrugia, A. Dimech, G. Gatt Ellis, K. Micallef, K. Saliba

Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta (3), L. Galea (1), J. Gambin (1), Z. Mizzi (1), B. Cachia, J. Cutajar, M. Mifsud (1), J. Brownrigg, D. Kholod (4), A. Prlainovic, D. Zammit (2), A. Bugeja, E. Schembri

Referees: Stefan Licari, Arnaldo Petronilli

 

Group A

Today

Barracudas v San Ġiljan 5.30pm

 

Group B

Today

Ta’ Xbiex v Valletta          6.35pm

Neptunes v Birżebbuġa 7.40pm