NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS......... 12

SLIEMA FRANK SALT................ 12

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

(Neptunes win 7-6 on penalties)

Neptunes Videoslots made an improbable comeback and fought off a Sliema side in a festive mood following their win in the knock-out final last Saturday. They came out as winners in an encounter that weren't leading during the whole game, but their determination paid off. This defeat is also an eye-opener for Sliema not take anything for granted.

Sliema needed just one win to make it to the final, with Neptunes needing to beat their arch-rivals twice. Now they are level, and head for the decider this weekend.

Sliema got off to a flying start with a commanding 3-0 lead. Dino Zammit scored an unusual early brace alongside Benji Cachia's goal. Everything seemed easy for Sliema until Stevie Camilleri reacted for Neptunes.

Following Liam Galea's goal early in the second session, Neptunes reduced the margin to 4-3 with goals by Dmitrii Kholod and Camilleri for the second time until Giacomo Cannella kept Sliema with a two-goal lead at the break.

Neptunes were determined to recover in the third session and partially managed as they equalised. Sliema's response resulted in two goals by Cannella for a 7-5 scoreline. Both teams went back and forth until Liam Galea and Zammit's goals put Sliema 10-7 ahead with only a session to play.

Considering the recent performances by Sliema and the situation in the game, they started favourites to close the game. But Neptunes had other plans and found their inner strength to recover in a splendid fashion.

First, they reduced the gap to 10-9 but Cannella's fourth goal of the game kept Sliema 11-9. Then, Neptunes turned the tables through goals by Dmitrii Kholod, Sam Gialanze and veteran Jordan Camilleri to give Neptunes the lead for the first time with two minutes left on the clock. Sliema had Cannella fouled-out, but they still managed to equalise in the last seconds thanks to a low shot by Jayden Cutajar.

The penalties had to separate these two teams. Both sets of five players were brave enough to take good penalties and made it difficult for the goalkeepers to save. Stevie Camilleri, Jake Muscat, Alec Fenech, Sam Gialanze and Dmitrii Kholod were the penalty takers for Neptunes while Dino Zammit, Andreas Galea, Liam Galea, Benji Cachia and Jayden Cutajar scored for Sliema.

The second round of penalties had to kick-off. Stevie Camilleri and Dino Zammit scored again, Muscat made it 7-6 for Neptunes but controversy stirred around Andreas Galea's penalty, and he missed the chance to shoot following Peter Balzan's whistle. A strange ending as Sliema lamented against the decision to consider the occasion as missed while Neptunes first protested for the infringement and then celebrated the win. Both teams will face off again for a spot in the final.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, D. Kholod (4), S. Gialanze (2), G. Pace, J. Camilleri (1), L. Mallia, S. Camilleri (3), M. Castillo, J. Muscat (1), J. Bajada, A. Fenech (1), E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja

Sliema: N. Grixti, E. Schembri, L. Galea (2), J. Gambin, G. Cannella (4), B. Cachia (1), J. Cutajar (1), D. Rizzo, S. Engerer, A. Galea (1), Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit (3), M. Castillo, J. Cassar

Referees: Peter Balzan, Stefano Pinato

SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS..... 14

SIRENS BUILD FITNESS......... 7

(3-1), (4-1), (6-3), (1-2)

After last Saturday's defeat in the knock-out final, San Ġiljan JP Projects had only one thing on their mind. They wanted to win as early as possible to qualify to the play-off final. And they did obtain the victory they needed to make it through.

They faced Sirens Build Fitness, a team that didn't look as determined as they were last week during the knock-out semi-final against the Saints.

A goal by Aaron Younger and a couple of goals by Nikolai Zammit gave San Ġiljan a 3-1 after Jake Cachia put Sirens in front. This was the only time that Sirens had the upper hand during the game. San Ġiljan's lead became solid during the second session as the goal streak stretched to six goals. Daniil Merkulov reduced the arrears but Younger made sure that San Ġiljan started the third session with a five-goal margin.

As the game was evolving, the question was when and not if San Ġiljan will win. A brace by Younger and a goal by Jeremy Abela was enough for Zeljko Kovacic's men to guarantee the win. At that point, Sirens had only aim to at least avoid humiliation.

They responded by lowering the deficit to 11-5 but left-handers Matthew Zammit and Nikolai Zammit kept San Ġiljan cruising. They continue controlling proceedings in the last session as Jeremy Abela scored the last goal of the game following two goals by Sirens.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli, D. Tully, R. Caruana, A. Younger (4), M. Zammit (1), J. Bonavia, J. Zammit (4), J. Abela (5), N. Zammit, D. Zammit, N. Schiavone, G. Borg, G. Bonavia

Sirens: M. Bonello DuPuis, P. Serracino, J. Chircop, P. Borg, J. Cachia (1), K. Agius, D. Merkulov (2), I. Riolo, J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia (1), M. Sciberras (3), M. Azzopardi, J. Parnis, M. Ortoleva

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Francesco Romolini