Giacomo Cannella continued to show his true potential as he spearheaded Sliema to another win, this time defeating Valletta Izibet 16-11. Cannella now has scored 20 goals from four games he has played as Sliema assured themselves to stay on top for another match day. Valletta were coming from a splendid win against Sirens but couldn’t catch up with a better opponent.
After Dino Zammit opened the score, Valletta responded with two goals from Matthew Mifsud and Kieyan Borg. That was the only time Valletta were in front during the game as Sliema responded late in the first session and took a 6-2 lead midway through the second session. Ivan Nagaev’s first personal goal pulled one back to keep his team three goals adrift of their opponents.
But Giacomo Cannella’s sharpness proved to be pivotal for his team as the Italian scored a hat-trick in less than two minutes from the start of the third session. A 9-3 gap was too much for Valletta to recover and at one point they looked ready to crumble. Sliema had an 11-4 lead with two and a half minutes left from the end of the third session but Joe Cremona’s team reacted and scored three consecutive goals to start the last session four goals behind.
Sliema were never in danger to lose the game but still needed a couple of goals to assure themselves. Cannella stepped in to kill the game with another two goals. They kept a constant and comfortable advantage throughout the session until a late brace by Nagaev cut the deficit to 16-11.
SLIEMA FRANK SALT 16
VALLETTA IZIBET 11
(2-2), (4-1), (5-4), (5-4)
Sliema: N. Grixti, E. Schembri, L. Galea (1), J. Gambin (1), G. Cannella (8), B. Cachia, J. Cutajar (3), D. Rizzo, J. Brownrigg, S. Engerer, Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit (2), M. Castillo, J. Cassar (1)
Valletta: B. Busuttil, M. Mifsud (3), J. Sciberras, S. Busuttil, K. Borg (2), M. Zammit (2), I. Nagaev (4), S. Micallef, A. Agius, M. Chircop, O. Zammit, A. Bugeja
Referees: Peter Balzan, Mirko Schiavo
FIRST DIVISION
MARSASKALA OPTIMA 16
BARRACUDAS 15
(3-3), (4-5), (3-5), (6-2)
Marsaskala: A. Muscat, D. Ciantar, E. Manzi (9), J. Pace Mizzi, M. Carani (1), R. Greco (1), K. Navarro (1), M. Farrugia (2), K. Grech, G. Sammut (1), J. Ciantar (1), M. Agius, M. Borg, L. Montebello Brownrigg
Barracudas: Cl. Bugeja, Ch. Bugeja (1), L. Bowman, P. Micallef, W. Ruggier, R. Sciortino, N. Rizzo (1), J. Schembri Young, S. Apap (4), M. Guidi (5), L. Pursehouse, C.J. Saliba (3), A. Micallef, T. Camilleri (1)
Referees: Mirko Schiavo, Juana Cauchi
OTTERS NIVEA 7
TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS 12
(2-2), (2-5), (2-3), (1-2)
Otters: M. Xerri, M. Bonnici, K. Scicluna, K. Micallef, M. Meli (2), D. Dimech, I. Azzopardi, S. Dimech, L. Dimech (2), P. Smiljevic (1), M. Farrugia (1), A. Dimech (1), M. Grech, T.J. Mifsud
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, J. Farrugia, V. Figliomeni, L. Grech Carr (3), F. Scardino (2), M. Jelaca (2), J. Saliba, A. Camenzuli (1), M. Soler (1), J. Culic (1), G. Gatt (1), P. Tabone (1), A. Theuma, T. Fenech
Referees: Marco Piano, Neville Mercieca
Premier League
P W D L F A Pts
Sliema 9 8 1 0 138 92 25
San Ġiljan 8 5 3 0 128 78 20
Sirens 8 4 0 4 78 88 12
Neptunes 8 3 2 3 97 91 12
Valletta 9 2 0 7 114 135 6
Birżebbuġa 8 0 0 8 64 135 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 8 6 0 2 111 76 18
Marsaskala 9 4 1 4 103 100 14
Otters 9 4 0 5 93 87 12
Ta’ Xbiex 9 3 1 5 91 107 10
Barracudas 9 0 0 9 69 153 0
*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game must be decided on penalties
Games for Today
Marsaxlokk v Exiles 6.00pm
San Ġiljan v Sirens 7.15pm
Neptunes v Birżebbuġa 8.30pm