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Malta outlast Brazil to set up play-off for ninth place against Canada at World Cup Division II

The Malta water polo national team secured another win at the World Cup Division II when they overcame Brazil 13-12 and will contest the play-off for ninth place against Canada on Monday afternoon.

It was another resilient performance from Milan Cirovic’s boys who showed great character to fend off the challenge of the Brazilians and secure their second successive win in the competition after overcoming fellow South Americans Argentina 16-15 on Saturday.

Once more, Ivan Nagaev was Malta’s leading scorer with five goals while Jake Cachia and Elijah Schembri and Julian Valletta netted a brace each.

Nagaev put Malta ahead early in the first session but the Brazilians fought back and netted twice to surge ahead before Schembri restored parity at 2-2.

In the second session, the game turned into a tit-for-tat with both teams trading goals with Elijah Schembri, Nagaev and Jerome Vella Gregory on the mark until the Brazilians managed to open a two-goal cushion to 6-4.

However, Valletta bridge the gap to one goal when ends were changed.

Malta managed to pull off a strong display in the third session, netting five times through Nagaev, Jake Cachia, Valletta, Schembri, and Jeremy Abela to finally nose in front before the start of the final session – 10-9.

The Brazilians tried to stage a reaction in the final session, but the Maltese held firm as back-to-back goals from Nagaev kept them ahead before a Jake Cachia strike with less than two minutes to go proved to be the winner.

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