Valletta beat Sirens on penalties after an enthralling contest as the ENEMED Cup resumed on Saturday afternoon at the National Pool. The Citizens had the last laugh at the expense of Sirens in a dramatic penalty shoot-out which was resolved 17-14 in their favour after the match ended 14-14.
Young Valletta goalkeeper Andrew Bugeja, who substituted Benji Busuttil as the latter joined Sliema, finished as his team’s hero when he saved three penalties.
Yet, during the match, it was Jake Cachia who stole the limelight, after scoring seven goals for Sirens.
A well-deployed rearguard and quick thrusts helped Valletta to a 3-1 first-session lead with goals coming from Max Zammit, Mark Carani and Seb Busuttil.
That lead was stretched to 7-4 by the end of the second, with Ivan Nagaev opening his scoring account as Jake Cachia completed his hat-trick for Sirens.
Two quick goals by Matthew Mifsud soon after the change of ends, gave Valletta a five-goal buffer.
Yet, Sirens fought back as goals from Cachia (2), Sciberras and Zach Mizzi saw them cut the deficit to just one goal on 10-9.
With Cachia conducting the operations, netting seven goals, the Citizens’ lead was completely wiped out as Valletta and Sirens started the last quarter 11-all.
Jacob Sciberras made it 12-11 for Valletta. But their joy was short-lived as Matthew Sciberras equalised again for Sirens.
The Northenders went in front for the first time 100 seconds from the end courtesy of Matthias Azzopardi.
Zammit made it 12-12 again. Gianni Farrugia scored a penalty for Sirens. But a last gasp five-metre throw from Nagaev saved the day for Valletta.
Earlier on, Neptunes made a bold recovery to pick the spoils at the expense of neighbours Exiles.
However, their qualities only emerged in the latter sessions after their opponents had been the equals and indeed taking a 6-4 lead at start of the third session.
In a game of musical chairs for waterpolo goalkeepers this season, Matthew Castillo joined Neptunes from Sliema as Alan Borg Cole faced his former side for the first time.
In the opening two sessions, Exiles edged in front most of the time, the Reds fought back to level the score on every single occasion until two goals in quick succession by Sam Gialanze tilted the balance in Neptunes’ favour.
But it was still everything to play for in the final quarter as Neptunes opened the session 8-6 in front.
Exiles doubled their efforts but Gialanze arched the ball over Borg Cole to make it 9-6.
Keith Tanti completed his poker before Stevie Camilleri converted a five-metre throw for a final 10-7 score.
In the opening match of the afternoon, Sliema defeated fellow southseasiders Birżebbuġa 21-5.
The southseasiders were outclassed with an eight-goal spurt in the last session.
For Sliema, John Brownrigg scored four goals followed by a hat-trick from Elijah Schembri.
San Ġiljan beat Marsaskala 14-7 in the final match of evening.
San Ġiljan, shorn of the services of Matthew Zammit and with their tailenders in the water for long periods, finished worthy winners with Daniel Tully topping the scoring charts with five goals.
BIRŻEBBUĠA 5
SLIEMA 21
(1-5, 1-3, 2-5, 1-8)
BIRŻEBBUĠA
S. Livori, M. Aquilina 1, M. Cassar, D. Incorvaja, S. Bezzina, M. Manara, J. Abdilla, N. Saliba 1, D. Farrugia, M. Cutajar, M. Mannino, M. Curmi 1, K. Manara, J. Saliba 2.
SLIEMA
A. Theuma, E. Schembri 3, L. Galea 2, P. Tabone 1, J. Cassar 2, B. Cachia, M. Soler 2, D. Rizzo 2, J. Brownrigg 4, A. Galea 1, CJ Saliba 1, D. Zammit 1, Z. Dzanovic, S. Engerer 2.
Refs: M. Angilleri, N. Mercieca
EXILES 7
NEPTUNES 10
(2-2, 3-2, 1-4, 1-2)
EXILES
A. Borg Cole, Z. Micallef, D. Pace Lupi, M. Martelacci 1, M. Paris Roding, M. Fenech 1, K. Griscti, M. Naudi, K. Tanti 4, K. Navarro 1, L. Felice, G. Galea Curmi
NEPTUNES
M. Castillo, L. Mallia, S. Gialanze 3, A. Aquilina, M. Lanzon, J. Valletta, S. Camilleri 2, J. Pawley, L. Montebello Brownrigg, M. Castillo 1, A. Fava, E. Mallia 1, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri.
Refs: D. Tully, S. Licari
VALLETTA 14
SIRENS 14
(3-1, 4-3, 4-7, 3-3; Valletta win 3-0 on penalties)
VALLETTA
A. Bugeja, M. Mifsud 2, M. Carani 1, J. Sciberras 2, S. Busuttil 2, Z. Cutajar Licari, M. Zammit 3, I. Nagaev 1, K. Borg 1, K. Erdogan 1, M. Chircop, K. Cremona, G.Borg, L. Hyzler.
SIRENS
M. Bonelo Depuis, P. Serracino, Z. Mizzi 1, P. Borg, J. Cachia 7, K. Agius, M. Ortoleva, I. Riolo, J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia 1, M. Sciberras 4, M. Azzopardi 1, I. Schembri, A. Dimech.
Refs: M. Angilleri, R. Spiteri
Penalty Sequence: Nagaev (V) scored; Peter Borg (S) saved; M. Mifsud (V) scored; Jerome Zerafa Gregory (S) saved; K. Erdogan (V) scored; M. Azzopardi (S) saved.
MARSASKALA 7
SAN ĠILJAN 14
(1-2, 2-4, 1-5, 3-3)
MARSASKALA
A. Muscat, D. Ciantar 1, T. Fenech, J. Pace Mizzi 1, J. Simpson 1, R. Greco 1, M. Agius, C. Harrison, N. Grech, G. Sammut 2, J. Ciantar 1, J. Colombo, L. Gatt, N. Spiteri
SAN ĠILJAN
M. Xerri, N. Bonavia, D. Tully 5, G. Bonavia 2, R. Caruana 1, L. Dimech 2, J. Bonavia, V. Figliomeni 2, J. Abela 1, N. Zammit, N. Schiavone 1, Z. Attard, S. Cutajar.
Referees: Massimo Angileri, Ronnie Spiteri.
