Sliema edge San Ġiljan in Challenger Cup Top 8 opener

SLIEMA 16

SAN ĠILJAN       15

(5-4, 2-4, 5-2, 4-5)

Sliema ASC took a major step towards reaching the semi-finals of the European Aquatics Challenger Cup semi-finals after edging Maltese rivals San Ġiljan in a thrilling encounter from the Top Eight group in Istanbul.

The two Maltese sides produced a nail-biting encounter with the lead changing hands several times but in the end it was Sliema who kept hold of their nerves to edge their rivals and secure a crucial win.

With four teams in each group, the Blues to beat either Turkish sides Heybeliada or Galatasaary on Friday to reach the semi-finals.

On the other hand, San Ġiljan face a tougher route to the last four as they must win their remaining two matches against Heybeliada and Galatasaray to progress.

Liam Galea and Niccolo Gitto were Sliema’s leading scorers with a hat-trick piece while Jake Cachia, Sam Engerer and Dino Zammit bagged a brace each.

Sliema looked in control in the first session as after finding themselves a goal behind, courtesy of a Ben Plumpton strike, the Blues hit back strongly finding the net four times without reply.

Goals from Benjamin Cachia, Niccolo Gitto, Sam Engerer, and Dino Zammit put them 4-1 up.

Marko  Vavic pulled a goal back for San Ġiljan but Zammit quickly restored Sliema’s three-goal lead.

But San Ġiljan kept fighting and late goals in the session by Vavic and Plumpton ensured they trailed by just one goal at the end of the quarter.

The second session turned out to be a real nail-biter with both sides trading blows in a bid to seize control of the match.

Matthew Zammit pulled San Ġiljan level early on before Liam Galea was twice on the mark to hand Sliema a two-goal cushion – 7-5.

But San Ġiljan mounted a late fightback as goals from Vavic, Nikolai Zammit and Darren Zammit rattled Sliema as the Saints took an 8-7 lead when ends were changed.

There was little separating either side in the third session with Julian Chircop restoring parity early for Sliema in the third session before Matthew Zammit put San Ġiljan 9-8 ahead.

But Sliema managed to fight back as first Jake Cachia equalised from a man-up set before Gitto scored with a six-metre shot to put Sliema back in front 10-9.

However, Alika Naone profited from Jamie Gambin’s exclusion to put San Ġiljan level again at ten-all.

With just 90 seconds to go from the end of the third session Plumpton conceded a penalty and Liam Galea to put Sliema 11-10 ahead before Jake Cachia converted a man-up set to put the Blues two goals ahead.

In the closing stages of the session, San Ġiljan lost Nikolai Zammit and Plumpton who were excluded with substitution with the same fate falling to Daniel Rizzo, of Sliema.

Gitto put Sliema three goals to the good at the start of the final session.

But the Blues suffered a double blow as Gambin and Gitto were both excluded by substitution.

Luigi Dimech made it 13-11 but Sam Engerer stretched Sliema’s lead to 14-11 soon after.

Then it was the turn of Jeremy Abela and Dino Zammit to be excluded by substitution as the match’s intensity continued to soar.

Vavic netted a quick-fire poker for San Ġiljan in between Elijah Schembri’s goal to tie up the match at 15-all and set up a thrilling finale.

But it was Sliema who had the final say as Aleksandar Ivovic netted the goal that won it for the Blues who held on to a crucial win.