A performance that might be fruitful to the national team ahead of the European Championships. Despite losing the second game of the SportMalta Christmas Cup, Malta showed that they are no pushovers amongst nations slightly better.
In the end, only one session was the difference between both teams, a session that was enough for France to snatch the win. Florian Bruzzo surely expected something more from his team, but credit goes to Malta for making it more difficult.
Milan Cirovic made four changes in his final selection for this game. Gianni Farrugia, Jerome Zerafa Gregory, Matthew Bonello DuPuis and Jake Bonavia were chosen instead of Alec Fenech, Jeremy Abela, Benji Busuttil and Jake Cachia respec‐ tively as the decision for the final selection is getting closer.
Malta played with fighting spirit in the first session and showed their opponents that they were in the game. In three different occasions, Malta scored after goals by their opponents and Liam Galea missed a penalty in the first ac‐ tion of the game. Jake Muscat from penalty, Sam Gialanze and Jayden Cutajar all found the net.
Milan Cirovic’s team kept their concentration in the game and reacted after going down 5‐3.
They not only equalised but took the lead for the first time in a splendid reaction that was ap‐ preciated by the numerous pub‐ lic present at the newly indoor pool at Cottonera Sports Com‐ plex.
A brace both from man‐ups by Jake Muscat and a penalty well‐ taken by Jayden Cutajar turned the tables for Malta. But the lead was short lived as French captain Ugo Crousillat equalised from penalty.
France understood the warning shown by the Maltese players and stepped up their game dur‐ ing the third session. They pressed better, were more cyni‐ cal in front of goal and opened up an 11‐6 advantage, a gap that proved to be too much for Malta.
Michael Bodegas and Crousillat both scored twice in the session alongside a goal by Thomas Vernoux. Liam Galea responded for Malta.
Despite the four‐goal difference, Malta kept playing to not only limit the damage but also try to gain the best possible result. At one point, Galea’s second goal of the game cut the deficit to 12‐10. But France quickly faded the hopes of Malta and controlled the last moments of the game.
Malta: J. Tanti, G. Farrugia, L. Galea (2), M. Castillo, S. Gialanze (1), B. Plumpton (1), J. Muscat (4), J. Cutajar (2), J. Zerafa Gregory, N. Zammit (1), D. Zammit, N. Bugelli, M. Bonello DuPuis, M. Azzopardi, J. Bonavia
France: A. Hovhannisyan, R. Saudadier, U. Crousillat (3), A. Bouet (3), E. Nardon, T. Vernoux (3), D. Zivkovic, E. Bjorch, M. Mar‐ zouki, M. Bodegas (4), P. Van Peperstraete (1), A. De Nardi, H. Fontani, C. Canonne, R. Marion Vernoux (1)
Referees: Peter Balzan, Stefan Licari
Photos: Domenic Aquilina