Waterpolo: Organised Valletta defeat lacklustre Sirens
SIRENS BUILD FITNESS 7VALLETTA IZIBET 17(2-4), (3-5), (1-4), (1-4) &nbs
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
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
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
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