Waterpolo: Cannella stars in the much awaited 27th KO triumph for Sliema

SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS 13SLIEMA FRANK SALT 17(3‑5), (5‑5), (2‑3), (3‑4)Giacomo Cannella left a mark in Sliema's history as he was instrumental in Sliema Frank Salt's win against San Ġiljan JP Projects. This win

By: independent.com.mt

Aug 11 2024
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Waterpolo: Cannella stars in t

SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS 13

SLIEMA FRANK SALT 17

(3‑5), (5‑5), (2‑3), (3‑4)

Giacomo Cannella left a mark in Sliema's history as he was instrumental in Sliema Frank Salt's win against San Ġiljan JP Projects. This win has several meanings and could also have an impact for the following weeks.

This was Sliema's first success in the competitions since 2013. They stopped San Ġiljan from winning the 11th successive competition and stopped the Saints from claiming a record fifth consecutive KO. It is also the first win under the helm of Pres‐ ident George Gregory and the first knock‐out playing for the club for several Sliema players.

Cannella will deservedly take all the honours, but it was a collec‐ tive effort from Giannis Ka‐ trouzanakis' team. Matthew Castillo started again in goal and had a positive game; the experi‐ ence of Dino Zammit and An‐ dreas Galea was important while the energy of their youngsters proved to be pivotal.

San Ġiljan didn't play at their potential. Aaron Younger was not at his best while other players like Nicholas Bugelli and Nikolai Zammit had better nights. One must not leave the control of the referees as both Luca Bianco and Massimo Angileri were decisive in their decisions and made sure to keep control of the game.

Sliema got off to a flying start with two quick goals by Jamie Gambin and Giacomo Cannella.

San Ġiljan pulled a goal back three times but Sliema kept re‐ sponding immediately as they ended the first session 5‐3.

The Italian superstar continued to run the show in the second session. He scored four goals as Sliema kept the advantage in the game. At one‐point Sliema had an 8‐4 and 10‐6 lead while looking comfortable controlling the game. San Ġiljan reacted and scored two important goals from Darren Zammit and Aaron Younger to keep their opponents in their sight.

Both teams kept going back and forth during the third session as tension started running high. Sliema tried to pull away from their opponents, but Jake Bonavia responded to Dino Zam‐ mit's wonderful goal and Aaron Younger reacted following the well‐planned man‐up scored by Daniel Rizzo. The goal by another youngster, this time Daniel Rizzo, gave Sliema a solid cushion for the last session.

San Ġiljan were not going to give up that easy during the last session. Sliema lost three man‐up situations and in a space of a minute, San Ġiljan scored twice to open the game while they also lost Matthew Zammit who sent off. There was still a bit more than half a session to go.

Sliema had Dino Zammit excluded with substitution, but the turning point of the match was when San Ġiljan lost the chance to equalise from a double man‐up situation. This action rang the alarm bell for Sliema and Can‐ nella responded with a hat‐trick of goals to kill the game.

Liam Galea sealed the win in the last moments as Sliema support‐ ers erupted in their celebrations for this much awaited moment. ASA President accompanied by the BOV COO Ernest Agius pre‐ sented the trophy to Sliema cap‐ tain John Brownrigg.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli (1), D. Tully, R. Caruana, A. Younger (3), M. Zammit (2), J. Bonavia (1), J. Zammit, J. Abela (3), N. Zammit, D. Zammit (3), N. Schiavone, G. Borg, G. Bonavia

Sliema: N. Grixti, E. Schembri, L. Galea (1), J. Gambin (1), G. Can‐ nella (10), B. Cachia, J. Cutajar (2), D. Rizzo (1), J. Brownrigg, A. Galea, Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit (1), M. Castillo, J. Cassar (1)