ISRAEL…………… 16
MALTA……………. 17
(4-4), (3-1), (2-2), (3-5) (Penalty shoot-out 4-5)
A burst of goals in the last session allowed Malta to recuperate a three-goal deficit and take the lead with 10 seconds to go, but poor defending gave Israel the chance to equalise for the game to go to a penalty shoot-out which Malta won to take the 15th place at the European championships, being held in Croatia.
Malta aspired for a higher place after beating the same Israel during the group stages, but a loss to Slovenia on Thursday meant that the young national side had to beat Israel again to avoid the last place in the competition.
And, for a long time during the game, Malta appeared distant from the target, with Israel the better team as the Maltese players failed to take advantage of the chances that came their way, while defending in a disorganised way.
After a balanced first session in which the two sides shared eight goals, Israel took a two-goal advantage by the change of ends and remained in front until the fourth session, increasing the lead to 11-8. But Malta fought back to equalise and even take the lead with a Bonavia goal with 10 seconds to go, only for Israel to score again to take the match, at 12-12, to a penalty shoot-out.
Jake Tanti saved two penalties for Malta, as Jake Muscat netted what proved to be the deciding penalty.
The 15th position is the same reached in 2016, when Malta had beaten Turkey also in a penalty shoot-out. The best placing remains the 14th, attained two years ago in Split.
Without San Gialanze and Nicholas Bugelli, the Maltese side suffered for most of the game, but in the end their fighting spirit and resilience paid off.
Jake Muscat was in a class of his own, scoring six of Malta's 12 goals, often at crucial stages of the game.
Malta failed to take advantage of playing four minutes with an extra man in between the end of the first session and the second quarter, as Israel defended bravely without conceding a ghoal. This demoralised the Maltese side and strengthened Israel, who led 7-5 at the change of ends.
The Israelis retained the advantage by the end of the third session and increased the lead to 11-8 with just five minutes to go. But goals from Jake Cachia, Jayden Cutajar, Liam Galea and Jake Bonavia turned the tables, with Malta taking a 12-11 lead with 10 seconds to go. Vlad Begin netted with three seconds to spare for the game to be decided on penalties.
Israel: Y. Fire, O. Schlein (2), R. Gros (2), Y. Klarfeld (1), V. Begin (2), I. Roth, K. Halevy, I. Goldschmidt (3), D. Koter, Y. Rendler (1), E. Ben Gal Chalutz (1), T. Fotin, M. Smirnov
Malta: J. Tanti, G. Farrugia, L. Galea (1), M. Castillo, J. Cachia (1), J. Bonavia (2), J. Muscat (6), J. Cutajar (2), J. Abela, N. Zammit, D. Zammit, M. Azzopardi, B. Busuttil
Referees: Eurico Silva (Portugall), Peter Radic (Slovakkja)