SLOVENIA………. 10
MALTA……………… 8
(2-2), (4-3), (2-1), (2-2)
Malta lost against Slovenia in the semi‐final of the 13th to 16th place play‐offs of the European championships, and now Malta has again to face Israel for the 15th place.
It was a wasteful performance from the young Maltese side which, after taking a 4-2 lead early in the second session, committed too many errors and defended erratically to allow Slovenia’s comeback.
Malta appeared disorganised in attack and missed too many chances, with Slovenia keeper Breton ending up being his side’s hero as he saved one shot after another. At the other end, a penalty save by Jake Tanti in the first session was not enough to boost Malta’s defensive performance, as the young lads allowed too much space for the Slovenian attack, especially Troppan, who scored almost at will.
The young inexperienced Malta side yesterday was rather disappointing and much more was expected after encouraging performances such as that against Germany and Israel. The defeat means that Malta will not have to face Israel again in the match for 15th place, missing out on the possibility of earning its best ever placing, the 13th.
Slovenia took the lead but Jayden Cutajar equalised with a man‐up situation. Slovenia missed a penalty but Troppan again gave Slovenia the lead when Zammit was sent off. Malta missed a man‐up but with 40 seconds to go Liam Galea made it 2‐2.
Malta went ahead for the first time at the start of the second quarter with a Jayden Cutajar drive. Santak was sent off and Jake Muscat made it 4‐2. Kadivec pulled one back and Troppan made it 4‐4. Cachia made it 5‐4 but when Azzopardi was sent off, Troppan immediately made it 5‐ 5.
Malta was again with a man down when Gianni Farrugia was sent off and Troppan scored his fourth of the game to make it 6‐5 for Slovenia.
At the start of the third session Abela was sent off and Stefanovic made it 7‐5. This was Malta’s worst patch and Santak made it 8‐5. Malta’s dismal showing reached a climax when Cachia missed a sitter after a fast break.
Malta missed another two man‐up possibilities as the Slovenia goalkeeper saved almost everything. With five seconds to go Jayden Cutajar converted a penalty for an 8‐6 score before the final session.
In the final session Malta missed two man‐ups as the Maltese simply could not put the ball at the back of the net. On the other end Stefanovic made it 9‐6 as this seemed to be the final blow for Malta. Another man‐up for Slovenia and Kadivec made it 10‐6. Jayden Cutajar scored his fourth of the game making it 10‐7 and Cachia with the final shot of the game made it 10‐8.
Slovenia: J. Beton, B. Popovic, J. Kadivec (2), M. Canc, J. Lah, V. Stefanovic (2), M. Santak (1), A. Paunovic, J. Seljak, J. Justin, A. Troppan (4), A. Cerar (1), G. Zurbi
Malta: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli, L. Galea (1), G. Farrugia, J. Cachia (2), J. Bonavia, J. Muscat (1), J. Cutajar (4), J. Abela, N. Zammit, D. Zammit, M. Azzopardi, B. Busuttil
Referees: Hendrik Schopp (Olanda), Sinisa Matijasevic (Montenegro)