Sirens hand champions San Ġiljan third successive defeat, Sliema outclass Valletta

Reigning champions San Ġiljan slumped to a third consecutive defeat after being comprehensively beaten 18-13 by a rampant Sirens, who continued to underline their remarkable progress this season with another outstanding display.

Sirens controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, setting a relentless pace that left the Saints chasing the game throughout. Every time San Ġiljan threatened to reduce the deficit, the Northerners responded emphatically to maintain their grip on the contest.

Sirens made a blistering start, with Matthew Mifsud striking twice to open up a 2-0 lead before Nikolai Zammit pulled one back for the champions.

Dániel Angyal restored the two-goal advantage, while Jerko Marinic-Kragić kept San Ġiljan within touching distance. However, Sirens finished the opening quarter strongly, pulling away to establish a 6-3 lead.

Zammit reduced the arrears early in the second session, but Sirens immediately raised the tempo once again, stretching their advantage to 8-4.

Alec Fenech briefly gave San Ġiljan hope, only for Gregory Zerafa and Matthew Sciberras to respond with quick goals that restored a commanding five-goal cushion. Zach Mizzi added another before the interval as Sirens turned around comfortably ahead at 11-6.

Mifsud completed his hat-trick soon after the restart, while Marinic-Kragić continued to keep the Saints alive from the penalty spot. Nevertheless, Sirens refused to lose concentration, with Sciberras and Andreas Galea extending the lead to 14-7.

San Ġiljan finally showed some fight as captain Matthew Zammit scored twice in quick succession before Marinic-Kragić netted his fourth goal to cut the deficit to 14-10. However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished.

Angyal struck twice at the start of the final quarter to take his personal tally to six goals and restore Sirens’ complete control. Jake Muscat replied for San Ġiljan, while Marinic-Kragić converted another penalty after Angyal was excluded for his third personal foul.

Sirens, however, remained composed. Matías Ortoleva produced one of the moments of the match by brilliantly rounding the San Ġiljan goalkeeper before finishing into the empty net to make it 17-12. Although Muscat converted a late penalty, Kydon Agius had the final say as Sirens sealed an emphatic 18-13 victory.

The result further highlights Sirens’ emergence as genuine title contenders this season, while San Ġiljan now face serious questions after suffering a third successive defeat in an alarming start to the defence of their championship.

Earlier, Italian water polo star Francesco Di Fulvio enjoyed a positive debut for Sliema, as Sliema produced a dominant display from start to finish in a one-sided encounter against Valletta.

Sliema were in complete control throughout the match, dictating the tempo in both attack and defence and leaving their opponents with little opportunity to mount a challenge.

Sliema’s attacking strength was underlined by the fact that almost every outfield player found the back of the net, with Daniel Rizzo the only member of the squad not to get on the scoresheet.

Elijah Schembri emerged as the match’s top scorer with an outstanding double hat-trick, while Di Fulvio celebrated his first appearance in Sliema colours with five goals. Jayden Cutajar also made a significant contribution, adding four goals to cap another impressive attacking performance.

VALLETTA 8

SLIEMA 26

2-5, 2-8, 2-6, 2-8

SLIEMA: B. Busuttil, F. di Fulvio 5, J. Briffa 2, A. Figliomeni, J. Cassar 2, B. Cachia 3, J. Cutajar 4, D.Rizzo , E. Schembri 6, J. Cachia , J. Chircop 1, D. Zammit 1, M. Bonello Dupius S. Engerer 1, S. Busuttil 2.

VALLETTA: A.Bugeja, G. Sammut, M. Carani, J. Sciberras 2, J. Colombo 1, P. Chmyr 2, M. Zammit 1, D. Tully, K. Borg, K. Erdogan, M. Chircop 2, G. Borg, N. Saliba, Z. Galea.

Refs R. Spiteri, F. Capobianco.

SIRENS 18

SAN ĠILJAN 13

(6-3, 5-3, 3-4,4-3)

SIRENS: N. Grixti, D. Angyal 6, A. Galea 1, G. Pace, J. Zerafa Gregory 1 , K. Agius 1, M. Ortoleva 1, I. Riolo 1, P. Serracino, M. Sciberras 2, Z. Mizzi 2, G. Farrugia , I. Schembri, M. Mifsud 3, A. Dimech.

SAN ĠILJAN: J. Tanti, J. Muscat 2 , J. Marinic-Kragic 5, N. Schiavone, R. Caruana 1, M. Zammit  2, J. Busuttil , G. Pisani , N. Zammit 2, D. Zammit , A. Fenech 1 , A. Muscat, L. Dimech , D. Bugeja.

Refs A. de Raffaele, A. Rondoni.