Sliema ASC outsmart San Ġiljan to progress in Challenger Cup

Sliema ASC booked their place in the next round of the European Aquatics Challenger Cup when they brushed aside Maltese rivals San Ġiljan 19-13 at the National Pool.

The Blues built their victory on a storming start to the match, which saw them take a commanding 7-2 lead, and from then on, there was no way back for San Ġiljan as Sliema cruised to a second successive win.

Sam Engerer was Sliema’s protagonist as he managed to find the net no less than six times as the Blues are now assured of a top-two finish in Group A.

San Ġiljan, on the other hand, must beat Israeli side Hapoel Palram Zvulum in the opening match at the Cottonera SC at 9am.

Sliema, on the other hand, will rubber-stamp top spot in the group if they beat APOEL Nicosia in their final match, starting at 10.30am.

In the first session, Sliema were on fire as they scored seven times through a brace by Liam Galea and Sam Engerer as well as goals by Elijah Schembri, Jake Cachia, Jamie Gambin.

San Ġiljan’s goals came from Nikolai Zammit (2) and Ben Plumpton.

The second session turned out to be a hard-fought affair with nine goals scored but Sliema again prevailed 5-4 to go 12-7 ahead at the interval.

Julian Chircop, Dino Zammit, Jamie Gambin, Sam Engerer, and Jake Cachia were on the mark for Sliema while Marko Vavic (2), Matthew Zammit, and Gabriel Bonavia responded for San Ġiljan.

The equilibrium persisted in the third session as six goals were shared with Engerer hitting a brace and the other Sliema goal came from Dino Zammit.

For San Ġiljan, Nikolai Zammit converted a penalty before furtehr nettings from Nico Schiavone and Jeremy Abela.

In the final session, Sliema administered their healthy advantage, netting four times through Engerer, Jake Cachia, Julian Chircop and Jayden Cassar.

San Ġiljan pulled three goals back through Dean Bugeja, Plumpton and Abela.