SLIEMA ASC 13
HAPOEL TEL AVIV 8
(5-0, 2-3, 2-3, 4-2)
Sliema ASC made a winning start in Group C of the LEN Men Challenger Cup.
A five-goal lead obtained by Sliema in the opening session suggested they would easily dismiss Hapoel Tel Aviv in the opening match.
With Sliema’s play betraying signs of rustiness in the middle sessions, the Blues clan feared Hapoel might manage to whittle down that initial buffer.
Yet Giannis Katrouzanakis’ men eventually succeeded to steer the victory home.
Their commanding 5-0 advantage in the first session matured on the strength of their powerful and accurate shooting, whilst they closed all avenues towards their own goal when their opponents had possession.
Initially, the team from Israel was not up to it even allowing for the Blues’ initial wastefulness.
Centre-man Zach Mizzi swivelled the ball into the net to open the scoring, whilst Liam Galea, scored a double before Elijah Schembri made it 4-0.
Sliema extended their lead just before the end of the first session with a backhand perfectly executed by Mizzi.
Hapoel managed to unlock Sliema’s zone and break the ice in the second quarter which they won 3-2 with goals coming from Kay Halevy and Or Schlein (2).
The local side responded with two goals coming from Julian Chircop and Dino Zammit as Sliema changed ends 7-3.
Hapoel’s hopes of a comeback were boosted when they cut down the deficit to 7-4 with Ran Souva.
But Sliema again responded with two goals from Jamie Gambin and Zammit before Yonatan Nadler’s double made it 9-6.
In the last session, Sliema managed to restore their five-goal lead through goals by Gambin, a five-metre throw Schembri, Zammit and Jayden Cassar to maintain the status-quo.
Sliema ASC: N, Grixti, E. Schembri 2, L. Galea 2, J. Gambin 2, J. Chircop 1, B. Cachia, J. Cassar 1, D. Rizzo, J. Brownrigg, A. Galea 1, Z. Mizzi 2, D. Zammit 2, Z. Dzanovic.
Hapoel Tel Aviv: R. Stur, O. Schlein 2, A. Neeman, O. Sasover, R. Mashiach, J. Gal-on, Y. Nadler 2, K. Halevy 1, R. Souva 2, K. Pinchasi, Y. Zonanstern 1, I. Kolodny, J. Mendelsohn.
OTHER RESULT: Carouge Natation (Switzerland) vs Clube Fluvial (Portugal) 9-12.
