NEPTUNES 15
SAN ĠILJAN 16
(5-5, 2-1, 2-3, 3-3)
NEPTUNES
M. Castillo, S. Gialanze 4 , G. Zalanki 1, L. Mallia , J. Camilleri 1, J. Valletta , S. Camilleri 3, M.Castillo , B. Schranz, J. Bajada , A. Fenech , M. Azzopardi 3, M. Rossi, E. Mallia.
SAN ĠILJAN
J. Tanti, D. Bugeja, D. Tully , R. Caruana, A. Younger 3, M. Zammit , J. Bonavia , B. Plumpton 3 , J. Abela 1 , N. Zammit 1, D. Zammit 3 , N. Schiavone, Z. Attard, G. Bonavia.
Refs: A. Franulovic, M. Angilieri
Penalties Sequence: Stevie Camilleri (N) scored 13-12; Nikolai Zammit (SG) scored 13-13; Zalanki (N) scored 14-13; Abela (SG) scored 14-14; Gialanze (N) scrored 15-14; Younger (SG) scored 15-15; Valletta (N) out 15-15; M. Zammit (SG) scored 15-16; Fenech (N) saved 15-16.
San Ġiljan were pushed all the way before sealing their 14th Premier Division crown – and their third in the past five years – after edging Neptunes in a penalty shoot-out to wrap up the series 2-0. Neptunes, who had bravely fought back from an early 4-0 deficit, forced the contest to penalties once again but fell just short at the decisive moment.
San Ġiljan wasted no time settling into their stride, with Aaron Younger and Nikolai Zammit dictating play from the outside positions. The Saints raced into a 4-0 lead through a Darren Zammit brace, a strike from Younger –in the final match of his glorious career – and a bouncing finish by Ben Plumpton over Matthew Castillo.
For Neptunes, the nightmare of their 7-1 opening-session collapse in the KO final seemed to be replaying, prompting coach Aleksandar Ciric to call an urgent time-out. His words sparked a reaction. Jordan Camilleri opened Neptunes’ account, followed by a Georg Zalánki strike, before Matthias Azzopardi and Steven Camilleri restored parity at 4-4. Their early fears had been allayed.
Plumpton briefly put San Ġiljan back in front, only for Steven Camilleri to respond with a thunderous effort that cannoned off the underside of the bar and crossed the line – sealing a thrilling first session at 5-5.
Neptunes then seized the initiative early in the second quarter through Sam Gialanze, fresh from sealing a move to Catania. With the foreigners tightly marking each other, the match tightened, both goalkeepers pulling off crucial saves. Gialanze struck again to hand Neptunes a two-goal cushion – an unthinkable turnaround after their dreadful opening minutes. Zammit pulled one back for San Ġiljan, but just before the interval Castillo produced a vital block on Younger, ensuring Neptunes went into half-time with the lead.
Azzopardi restored Neptunes’ two-goal cushion, before Castillo denied Nikolai Zammit with a crucial block. Still, San Ġiljan stayed within reach as Plumpton completed his hat-trick midway through the third session. Alec Fenech then squandered a golden chance to put Neptunes two goals clear when the ball slipped from his grasp.
Steven Camilleri, however, showed greater composure, completing his own hat-trick, before Jeremy Abela got on the scoresheet. Darren Zammit struck from the centre to level matters at 9-9, setting up a decisive final quarter with everything still to play for.
The final quarter opened with a superb backhand finish from Azzopardi, only for Younger to respond with a thunderous strike. The Australian then handed San Ġiljan a long-awaited lead after two sessions chasing the Reds. Yet their advantage was fleeting, as Gialanze quickly restored parity at 11-11.
Jake Bonavia edged the Saints ahead once more with a precise diagonal effort from the tightest of angles at position five, but Neptunes refused to yield, Gialanze striking again to level at 12-12.
With just a minute left, Castillo pulled off a brilliant reflex save to deny Matthew Zammit, before Jake Tanti stood tall at the other end to block Steven Camilleri’s last-gasp attempt. For the second match running, the contest would be decided by penalties.
OTHER RESULT
DIVISION ONE
OTTERS 16
MARSAXLOKK 27
(2-8, 3-9, 6-5, 5-5; Marsaxlokk champions)
OTTERS
M. Xerri, M. Bonniċi, A. Dimech 2, CJ Saliba, K.Micallef 1, D. Dimech 1, D. Gogov 3, M. Soler, L. Dimech 4, V. Figliomeni 1, M. Farrugia 1, K. Scicluna, Z. Dzanovic, S. Cutajar 3.
MARSAXLOKK
J. Micallef, M. Lanzon 2, N. Bogdanovic 11 , Z. Cutajar Licari , R. Spiteri , L. Brownrigg, S. Mifsud 3, J. Pawley 1, R. Galea 4, J. Borg Tabone 1, A. Fava 1, A. Cook 2, M. Brimmer, B. Lewis 2.
Refs: F. Brasiliano, S. Licari
