SIRENS BUILD FITNESS     7

VALLETTA IZIBET                17

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

                     

This was surely a different game from the last time they met less than two weeks ago. Valletta Izibet dominated Sirens Build Fitness in a game with a straightforward narrative. Valletta played a splendid game and could have played more sessions with the same rhythm. On the other hand, Sirens were disappointing, showing no signs of their true potential with a lot of erratic play both in defence and in attack. They had Matthias Azzopardi and Matthew Sciberras missing while Gabriel Melillo returned in the team.

Sirens’ game got off to a bright start with two goals from Daniil Merkulov and Jake Cachia. Valletta kept composure and reacted immediately to equalise from a brace by Kieyan Borg. Jacob Sciberras and Max Zammit scored in the last two minutes of the session to give their team an important 4-2 lead.

In two consecutive occasions, Sirens reduced the gap to one goal, but Valletta were concentrated enough not to let their slim lead slip away and reacted to keep their double advantage. Sebastian Busuttil and Jacob Sciberras opened an 8-4 lead, a gap that Valletta kept till the end of the second session.

Valletta deserved their lead but a comeback from Sirens was expected at that point. The fate of both teams was decided early in the third session. Valletta stretched their lead to 11-5 after two penalties scored by Ivan Nagaev while during the same period, Daniil Merkulov was fouled-out after two fouls in the early moments of the session.

All was won and lost but Valletta wanted to win by a larger margin while Sirens needed to salvage something from a disappointing evening. Valletta stayed the better team and controlled proceedings, taking advantage also of erratic play by their opponents and splendid saves by their goalkeeper Benjamin Busuttil.

During the last session, Valletta continued to control the game and managed to widen the gap, gaining the satisfaction of scoring also from man-up situations. Both teams face the top two in their next encounter.

Sirens: M. Bonello DuPuis, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan (1), P. Borg, J. Cachia (2), K. Agius, D. Merkulov (2), I. Riolo (1), J. Zerafa Gregory (1), G. Farrugia, J. Chircop, G. Melillo, J. Parnis, M. Ortoleva

Valletta: B. Busuttil, M. Mifsud, J. Sciberras (4), S. Busuttil (2), K. Borg (2), M. Zammit (1), I. Nagaev (4), S. Micallef (1), A. Agius (1), M. Chircop (2), K. Cremona, A. Bugeja, C. Mercieca

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Fabio Brasiliano

 

FIRST DIVISION

OTTERS NIVEA                    14

BARRACUDAS                                 6

(3-0), (2-5), (4-0), (5-1)

 

Otters: M. Xerri, M. Bonnici (1),K. Scicluna, K. Micallef, M. Meli (4), D. Dimech, I. Azzopardi, S. Dimech, L. Dimech (2), P. Smiljevic (4), M. Farrugia, A. Dimech (3), M. Grech, T.J. Mifsud

Barracudas: Cl. Bugeja, A. Falzon, N. Farrugia, P. Micallef, W. Ruggier, R. Sciortino, L. Bowman, J. Schembri Young, S. Apap (2), M. Guidi (4), L. Pursehouse, C.J. Saliba, A. Micallef, T. Camilleri

Referees: Richard Magri, Fabio Brasiliano

 

MARSAXLOKK MFF                        16

MARSASKALA OPTIMA     11

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

 

Marsaxlokk: M. Farrugia, M. Lanzon (1), A. Cook (1), B. Zammit, A. Aquilina (1), J. Valletta (2), R. Spiteri, J. Pawley, R. Galea (6), J. Borg Tabone, F. Valera (4), R. Attard, A. Fava, S. Mifsud (1)

Marsaskala: A. Muscat, D. Ciantar, E. Manzi (3), J. Pace Mizzi, M. Carani (4), R. Greco, K. Navarro (1), M. Farrugia (1), K. Grech, G. Sammut (1), J. Ciantar (1), J. Colombo, M. Borg, L. Montebello Brownrigg

Referees: Peter Balzan, Alessandro Cavallini

 

Premier League

                        P          W         D         L          F          A         Pts

San Ġiljan       7          5          2          0          117      67        19

Sliema             7          6          1          0          98        69        19

Sirens              8          4          0          4          78        88        12

Neptunes         7          3          1          3          86        80        10

Valletta            8          2          0          6          103      119      6

Birżebbuġa      7          0          0          7          52        111       0

*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game must be decided on penalties

 

First Division

                        P          W         D         L          F          A         Pts

Marsaxlokk     8          8          0          0          129      73        24

Exiles              7          5          0          2          96        68        15

Otters              8          4          0          4          86        75        12

Marsaskala     8          3          1          4          87        85        11

Ta’ Xbiex          7          2          1          4          71        85        7

Barracudas     8          0          0          8          54        137      0

*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game must be decided on penalties

 

Fixtures for Today

First Division

Exiles v Ta’ Xbiex        5.30pm

 

Premier Division

San Ġiljan v Neptunes            6.45pm

Sliema v Birżebbuġa   8.00pm