SLIEMA FRANK SALT............ 11

NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS...... 12

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

 

Neptunes Videoslots seized the opportunity to win an intense game in a classic clash against eternal rivals Sliema Frank Salt. The main actor of this chapter was surely Aleksandar Ivovic as he was instrumental in carrying his team to victory.

Sliema again failed to capitalise from a positive stint during a match. They held a four-goal lead, a lead that seemed comfortable at that point. Apart from the fact that they let their lead slip away, they had a positive performance and show signs of progression under the helm of coach Dejan Savic.

A penalty by Dmitrii Kholod and a goal by Andrija Prlainovic gave Sliema a 2-0 lead. Filip Filipovic and a penalty by Aleksandar Ivovic evened their opponents. That was only until Dino Zammit gave Sliema a 3-2 lead with 16 seconds left till the end of the first session.

Sliema caught Neptunes off guard in the beginning of the second session. Kholod and a brace by Prlainovic resulted in a splendid 6-2 lead with only a quarter of the second session played. Neptunes looked stunned but as time passed, they started to regain their composure. They were led by Ivovic, as the star from Montenegro alongside Filip Filipovic cancelled the four-goal difference before the end of the second session.

Neptunes continued their surge in the game and for the first time went in front. It was none other than Ivovic to score as Filipovic made it 8-6. This was the sixth consecutive goal for Neptunes scored all by their foreigners. Kholod pulled one back to keep Sliema in the game.

Prlainovic equalised in the beginning of the last session, Stevie Camilleri kept Neptunes with their noses in front but a brace by the in-form Dmitrii Kholod gave Sliema the lead again. But their lead was short lived as Stevie Camilleri equalised from a man-up. Neptunes distanced themselves after scoring another two goals from man-up for a 12-10 lead. Sliema’s reaction wasn’t powerful enough and could only score from a penalty in their last action.

Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea, J. Gambin, Z. Mizzi, B. Cachia, J. Cutajar, M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, D. Kholod (6), A. Prlainovic (4), D. Zammit (1), A. Bugeja, E. Schembri

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat (1), S. Gialanze, M. Castillo, J. Bajada, S. Camilleri (2), J. Camilleri, A. Ivovic (6), F. Filipovic (3), A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja, A. Fava

Referees: Attilio Paoletti, Massimo Angileri

 

BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT........ 11

VALLETTA IZIBET................... 12

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

 

Valletta Izibet’s target at the beginning of the campaign has been reached. They managed to defeat Birżebbuġa Freeport to clinch the final spot in Premier Division in a game that could have gone either way. Birżebbuġa must feel disappointed not to at least claim a point that would have been enough for them due to superior goal difference.

Darko Brguljan gave Birżebbuġa the lead until Valletta went in front twice through a brace by Ivan Nagaev and later a goal by youngster Kieyan Borg. David Cutajar equalised from man-up in the last action of the session.

Birżebbuġa had a slight upper hand in the second session, but Valletta were quick to react in two occassions. Balasz Erdelyi scored twice and Nagaev responded on both occasions. In the latter stage of the session, it was the turn of Birżebbuġa to respond twice to Valletta’s goals, both coming from man-ups.

Joe Cremona’s team had a two-goal lead for the first time in the game after overturning an 8-7 disadvantage to a 10-8 lead. But Birżebbuġa made a stern reaction and recovered the deficit in the last minute and a half of the game.

Nagaev scored his sixth of the game in the opening minutes of the last session, Darko Brguljan equalised a minute later but Andrija Vlahovic scored the important goal. Birżebbuġa tested their luck in the last minute of the game, but they weren’t successful. The final whistle was met with joy by the Valletta players and their coach, knowing that they will play amongst the best teams of Maltese waterpolo.

Birżebbuġa: M. Sladden, P. Borg, N. Cassar, B. Grech, D. Brguljan (3), M. Manara, D. Cutajar (1), B. Erdelyi (3), K. Tanti, G. Mannino (2), M. Curmi, C.D. Borg, J. Sciberras (2), D. Farrugia

Valletta: B. Busuttil, J. Spiteri Staines (1), D. Rizzo, J. Cassar, S. Busuttil, A. Vlahovic (3), D. Paolella, I. Nagaev (6), S. Micallef, A. Agius, K. Borg (2), K. Cremona, A. Theuma, M. Demarco, J. Chircop

Referees: Tiziano Petrini, Alex de Raffaele

 

SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS..... 18

SIRENS................................. 11

(4-1), (6-2), (3-3), (5-5)

 

San Ġiljan JP Projects made no mistake in the final Group Phase match against Sirens. Despite both winning the four group games, there was a difference between them, and it was confirmed during the game. San Ġiljan were superior and secured the win by the end of the second session.

Darren Zammit and Ben Plumpton gave San Ġiljan a double lead in the early stages of the game. Gianni Farrugia reduced the margin, but Maro Jokovic and Nikolai Zammit made it 4-1. Sirens tried to stay at par with their opponents and responded twice to the goals of their opponents but San Ġiljan scored four consecutive goals in the last two minutes of the session to build a commanding 10-3 lead.

A seven-goal lead by the champions proved too much for Sirens to recover. San Ġiljan coach had the time to make use of the usual rotation to keep his team fresh. During the third session, it was the turn of captain Matthew Zammit to shine for San Ġiljan as he scored all the three goals for his team.

Sirens managed to at least limit the damage in the last part of the game. They managed to score four goals in the last session with goals coming from a penalty and three successfully converted man-ups.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, K. Calleja, A. Galea, B. Plumpton (3), M. Jokovic (3), M. Zammit (4), J. Bonavia (2), A. Younger (2), J. Abela, N. Zammit (3), D. Zammit (1), R. Caruana, G. Borg, G. Bonavia, N. Bonavia

Sirens: T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan (1), P. Figlioli (1), J. Zerafa Gregory (2), G. Farrugia (3), M. Chircop, G. Melillo (1), M. Cutajar, M. Pasztor, M. Sciberras (1), M. Azzopardi (2), M. Bonello Dupuis, J. Cachia, G. Sammut

Referees: Attilio Paoletti, Peter Balzan

 

Preliminary Phase

Group A

                                P             W           D             L              F              A             Pts

San Ġiljan            5              5              0              0              108         49           15

Sirens                    5              4              0              1              80           49           12

Marsaskala         5              2              1              2              69           58           7

Marsaxlokk         5              2              1              2              76           76           7

Exiles                     5              1              0              4              54           71           3

Barracudas          5              0              0              5              43           127         0

 

Group B

                                P             W           D             L              F              A             Pts

Neptunes            5              5              0              0              88           36           15

Sliema                   5              4              0              1              69           44           12

Valletta                 5              3              0              2              61           64           9

Birżebbuġa         5              2              0              3              63           61           6

Ta’ Xbiex              5              0              1              4              42           77           1

Otters                   5              0              1              4              37           78           1