Neptunes cruised into the BOV Knock-Out final, setting up a highly anticipated showdown with San Ġiljan on Thursday.
With both teams dominating the domestic scene this season, the final promises to be a fierce battle – far from a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Play-Off final.
Playing their third match in seven days, Neptunes’ coach Aleksandar Ćirović opted to rest several of his key players, including Stevie Camilleri, Gergo Zalánki, and goalkeeper Matthew Castillo, all of whom started on the bench.
This gave fringe players a chance to shine – and it was Luigi Mallia who made the most of the opportunity, opening the scoring early on. Stand-in goalkeeper Marco Rossi also made an early statement with a brilliant save on Dominique Zahra.
Exiles’ goalkeeper Alan Borg Cole – himself a former Neptunes player – was unlucky to deflect Mallia’s shot onto the underside of the crossbar and into his net.
With Neptunes firmly in control, Ćirović introduced Camilleri and Zalánki in the second session to try and wrap up the game early.
Alec Fenech, from position one, delivered a pinpoint ball to the centre, where Mark Castillo tapped in for a 3-0 lead.
Exiles responded through Kurt Griscti during their first meaningful attack.
But Zalánki, orchestrating from position five, found Jordan Camilleri in front of goal to restore a three-goal cushion.
Veteran David Pace Lupi managed a clever backhand to surprise Rossi at the near post, but Neptunes immediately answered through Castillo.
Rossi continued to shine, pulling off another excellent save – this time a one-handed block on Kanstantsin Averka.
Neptunes extended their lead further through goals from Camilleri and Mallia, who went on to complete his hat-trick.
Averka tried to steady the Exiles’ ship before the break, but Neptunes changed ends 7-3 ahead.
The third session began with quickfire goals from Camilleri and Julian Valletta to make it 9-3.
Averka kept Exiles in the game with a five-metre penalty, but Neptunes struck back through Sam Gialanze.
Neptunes conceding multiple penalties, helping Averka to complete his hat-trick, narrowing the margin slightly.
Valletta added another for 11-5 before Camilleri netted his third just before the end of the third session, further stretching the lead.
Averka converted another penalty – his third of the night – but Neptunes still held a commanding 12-6 advantage.
With the game effectively decided, Ćirović withdrew both Camilleri and Zalánki for the final quarter, but Neptunes continued to dominate.
Alec Fenech opened the fourth session with a quick brace. After another penalty concession, Averka allowed Timmy Agius to take the five-metre throw, which he converted.
But it was Neptunes, and in particular Matthias Azzopardi with a late double, who had the final say.
The match had long been decided, and the final score of 16-8 reflected the gap in quality and depth between the two sides.
Earlier, San Ġiljan secured their place in the BOV Knock-Out final after a dominant spell in the second session, where they scored three goals without reply in the opening minutes – an advantage that ultimately proved decisive.
Sirens had surprised their more highly-rated opponents in the first session, taking a 2-0 lead through Nicolas Bicari and Isaiah Riolo. However, San Ġiljan responded swiftly, with Ben Plumpton and Aaron Younger drawing the sides level.
It was at the start of the second session that San Ġiljan seized control, with Matthew Zammit scoring and Nicolai Zammit netting twice to give the Saints a 5-2 lead.
Riolo tried to spark a comeback, but Younger made it 6-3. Just before the break, Kydon Agius pulled one back for Sirens, who went into halftime trailing by two goals.
Early in the third session, Sirens were dealt a blow when a lob by Nikolai Zammit was deflected into the net off the post by goalkeeper Joe Parnis. Jeremy Abela followed up with another goal to extend San Ġiljan’s lead to 8-4.
Despite the setback, Sirens fought back through goals from Bicari and Peter Borg, narrowing the gap to 8-6.
Zammit made it 9-6, but with two minutes left in the third session, Sirens coach Ranko Perovic called a timeout to regroup. The tactical move paid off as Matthew Sciberras found the net, keeping the Northenders in the contest.
At the start of the fourth session, Riolo completed his hat-trick, reducing the deficit to just one goal – a tense moment for San Ġiljan as the match hung in the balance.
Jake Tanti came up big with a crucial save on Bicari, while Parnis denied Zammit at the other end.
Moments later, Nico Schiavone powered down the right flank and set up Jeremy Abela in position six, restoring a two-goal cushion at 10-8 for San Ġiljan.
But Sirens weren’t done yet – Sciberras bounced one over Tanti to bring it back to 10-9.
However, Sirens’ hopes were dashed in the dying seconds when Bicari’s lob landed on the top of the net with just 16 seconds remaining, sealing San Ġiljan’s hard-fought win and their spot in the final.
SAN ĠILJAN 10
SIRENS 9
(2-2, 4-2, 3-3, 1-2)
SAN ĠILJAN: J. Tanti, D. Bugeja, D. Tuly, R. Caruana, A. Younger 2, M. Zammit 1, J. Bonavia, B. Plumpton 1, J. Abela 2, N. Zammit 2, D. Zammit, N. Schiavone 2, Z. Attard, G. Bonavia.
SIRENS: J. Parnis, P. Serracino, N. Bicari 2, P. Borg 1, J. Cachia , K. Agius 1, M. Ortoleva, I. Riolo 3, J. Zerafa Gregory , M. Sciberras 2, Z. Mizzi, G. Farrugia , M. Bonello Dupius, G. Pace.
Refs: L. Iacovelli, A. De Raffaele
EXILES 8
NEPTUNES 16
(0-2, 3-5, 3-5, 2-4)
NEPTUNES: M. Castillo, S. Gialanze 1 , G. Zalanki , L. Mallia 3, J. Camilleri 1, J. Valletta 2, S. Camilleri 3, M. Castillo 1 , B. Schranz, J. Bajada 1 , A. Fenech 2, M. Azzopardi 2, M. Rossi, E. Mallia.
EXILES: A. Borg Cole, G. Gatt, Z. Micallef, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Agius 1, M. Martelacci, M. Fenech, K. Griscti 1, K. Averka 4, K. Tanti, K. Navarro, D. Zahra 1, G. Galea Curmi, L. Hyzler.
Refs D. Bianco, M. Angilleri.
