Sliema outclass Ljubljana to secure historic spot in LEN Challenger Cup

SLIEMA             13

VK LJUBLJANA             2

(2-0, 5-1, 2-1, 4-0)

Sliema grabbed the headlines on Saturday when they beat VK Ljubljana 13-2 in an electrifying atmosphere at the Cottonera Sports Complex and earn a place into the semi-finals of the LEN Challenger Cup.

This is definitely uncharted territory for a Maltese team.

It was a huge task never accomplished before by any Maltese side, considering the size of Malta, and Sliema’s limited resources given that they are the only side playing without a foreigner in the competition and shorn of their most talented player Jayden Cutajar.

Their 13-2 was a bright omen after the encouraging inroads Sliema made last summer. The Blues were again spearheaded by Liam Galea and Dino Zammit, both scorers of a hat-trick.

Having reduced their Slovenian opponents to sparring partners in the opening quarters the Sliema coach Giannis Katrouzanakis opted for more massive substitutions in the last sessions to win handsomely.

The writing was on the wall for VK Ljubljana Slovan after losing the first leg 18-5 at home and the return match in Malta proved to be a bridge too far to cross for them.

Moreover, with the Blues’ faster rate and and more powerful collective fare, the stakes were too heavy on the Slovenians to stage a comeback.

The rot for them started in the first session and from then on, they were submerged and a mere shadow of their opponents.

Sliema built a three-goal advantage by the start of the third session with Elijah Schembri, John Brownrigg and Andreas Galea providing the goals.

It was now one-way traffic as the Blues increased their advantage with a further four goals, courtesy of Brownrigg again, Dino Zammit, Liam Galea and Sam Engerer as Policnik opened their opponents’ account.

Sliema edged Ljubljana 2-1 in the third session to increase their advantage to 14 goals.

The last session was only a formality with Katrouzanakis throwing in the youngster Zack Dzanovic and giving other youngsters more time in the water.

The Greek mentor saw his team ease off against the opponents who had long thrown in the towel, playing the final four minutes with a man less after Brank Kirasic was excluded without substitution for brutality.

Liam Galea, Andreas Galea and Zammit (2) completed the formalities in a straight-forward fashion.

SLIEMA: Z. Dzanovic, E. Schembri 1, L. Galea 3, J. Gambin, J. Chircop, B. Cachia, J. Cassar, D. Rizzo, J. Brownrigg 2, A. Galea 2, S. Engerer 2, D. Zammit 3, B. Busuttil.

VK Ljubljana Slovan: J. Beton, R. Vukovic, M. Canc, E. Potocnik, N. Ziberna, M. Lipnik, A. Povhe, B. Kirasic, J. Carni, J. Klobucar, F. Policnik 2, M. Petrovic, G. Karnicar.