Sliema beat Clube Fluvial to preserve perfect record in Challenger Cup

SLIEMA ASC 15

CLUBE FLUVIAL 7

(3-1, 5-3, 1-0, 6-3)

Sliema ASC rose to the occasion in great style at the LEN Challenger Cup to chalk up their second consecutive victory with an emphatic 15-7 win over Clube Fluvial.

The Portuguese had also won the opening match against Carouge Natation, so this was a direct clash. The Blues need to avoid defeat against the Swiss side to reach the next round of the Challenger Cup.

It was a commendable performance by the Maltese side, a team effort which was rubber-stamped by Dino Zammit, who was a constant reference point but also scorer of four goals.

John Browningg also gave his scoring contribution with a brace. Last but not least the tailenders, namely Julian Chircop, scorer of a hat-trick, Daniel Rizzo and Elijah Schembri, who vindicated the trust shown in them by the coach Giannis Katrouzanakis.

Sliema took a 3-1 lead inside the first session as they mastered the early exchanges better.

Dino Zammit’s brace preceded John Brownrigg’s conversion before Joao Moreira reduced the deficit late in the opening quarter.

Nevertheless, it was a close contest with the Maltese side again the better starters extending their lead to four goals with their goals coming from Zammit and Liam Galea.

But the Portuguese side came back to cut the deficit and go 5-3 down.

A penalty awarded to either side, were both converted with Tiago Parati responding to Dino Zammit’s fourth personal conversion.

It was here that Jamie Gambin came to fore, hitting a quick-fire brace as Sliema distanced themselves from their opponents to change ends 8-4.

At the start of the third session, Galea made it 9-4.

However, they failed to add to their tally in the third session, wasting a number of chances, perhaps through over-confidence.

Further conversions at the beginning of the fourth session by Elijah Schembri and Julian Chircop killed off the game.

Brownrigg gave his scoring contribution to net his second of the match. At this point, Giannis Katrouzanakis gave his tailenders including second-choice goalkeeper the youngster Zack Dzanovic their chance to shine. 

And there was still time for Daniel Rizzo to put his name on the score list and Chircop complete his hat-trick.

Sliema ASC: N, Grixti, E. Schembri 1, L. Galea 2, J. Gambin 2, J. Chircop 2 , B. Cachia, S. Engerer, D. Rizzo 1, J. Brownrigg 2, A. Galea , Z. Mizzi , D. Zammit 4, Z. Dzanovic.

Clube Fluvial: N. Cruz. L. Duarte, C. Bastos, B. Barata, T. Parati 2, M. Gomez, D. Pinto 2, J. Leite, R. Sousa 1, T. Teixeira, A. Pereira 1, J. Moreira 1, S. Veiga.