Neptunes in the semi-final with a commanding win
Sliema Frank Salt ............ 7 Neptunes Leo Vegas ...... 15 (2-2), (4-3), (0-5), (1-5)
Neptunes Leo Vegas continued to build on the great performance against San Ġiljan last Friday, as they commanded proceedings with a fine win against Sliema Frank Salt. This defeat left Sliema fighting only for the title, while Neptunes will face Exiles in the semi-final.
Neptunes responded twice in the first session, after goals by Christian Presciutti and Mark Meli. Popovic’s team took advantage twice in the second session, but Sliema managed to reover a 5-3 deficit. They scored three consecutive goals from to finish the session 6-5 in front.
Considering the first two sessions, the match seemed to be heading the last minutes of the game. But Neptunes had other plans as they dominated the third session, scoring one goal after the other to open up a four-goal cushion.
Sliema were shocked and didn’t have enough strength to recover. Gabarretta responded to the goal by Muslim, but Neptunes scored from Niki Lanzon, Stevie Camilleri (2) and Jeremy Abela to finish the match with a commanding win.
Sliema: J. Sammut, J. Gabarretta (1), C. Presciutti (3), J. Saliba, M. Meli (2), K. Dowling, M. Spiteri Staines, D. Fenech, M. Cordina, J. Gambin, Z. Mizzi, N. Bugelli (1), Z. Sciberras
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (2), K. Erdogan, G. Pace (2), P. Muslim (1), N. Zammit, S. Camilleri (5), J. Camilleri (2), J. Abela (1), M. Zammit (1), J. Muscat (1), J. Parnis
Referees: Massimo Domenico Rotondano Angileri,
San Giljan Tum Inv ......... 9 Sirens Greentube ............. 7 (2-2), (4-3), (1-0), (2-2)
San Ġiljan TUM Invest had to work more than expected to beat Sirens Greentube in a highly contested. Sirens were a tough nut to crack as they offered a serious opposition, but San Ġiljan looked more the team that finally was going to end the match as winners.
The first session finished 2-2 as Paulo Obradovic and Peter Borg responded to the opening goal by John Napier, but John Brownrigg equalised with less than a minute and a half before the end of the session. San Ġiljan managed to get the upper hand in the second session but Sirens made sure to stay in the game with a comeback in the second part of the session.
San Ġiljan started the third session with a goal advantage. A penalty by Paulo Obradovic gave a double advantage that was kept till the beginning of the last session. Sirens didn’t take advantage from their two man-ups.
In the previous sessions, the match hit a boiling point as both teams and supporters were protesting heavily from certain decisions by the referees. Ben Plumpton seemed to push San Ġiljan for the win, but two goals from Bicari and Edward Aquilina made sure to have an interesting finish to the game.
Sirens had a man-up situation after Dino Zammit was sent-off, but it was San Ġiljan that closed the game with a penalty scored by Paulo Obradovic.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea, B. Grech, C. Farrugia, M. Zammit (1), B. Plumpton (1), Da. Zammit, T. Said, P. Obradovic (4), P. Fava, D. Zammit (2), T. Micallef
Sirens: N. Grixti, P. Privitera, E. Aquilina (1), N. Bicari (2), M. Grech, I. Riolo, C. Mercieca, J. Sciberras, J. Napier (1), L. Falzon, L. Caruana, J. Brownrigg (3), G. Galea Curmi
Referees: Alex De Raffaele, Massimo Calabro
Ta’ Xbiex Amigos ............ 6 Birzebbuga Freeport ...... 12 (4-2), (2-5), (0-4), (0-1)
Ta’ Xbiex: M. Vassallo, R. Greco, M. Manara, L. Hyzler, B. Cachia (1), K. Mock, G. Blundell, N. Dedovic (4), L. Galea, G. Sammut (1), K. Tanti, N. Saliba, A. Theuma
Birżebbuġa: D. Abela, M. Borg, N. Cassar (1), D. Pace Lupi (2), D. Brguljan (5), J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Cutajar (2), S. Micallef (1), M. Cutajar, M. Ortoleva (1), J. Zerafa Gregory
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Massimo Calabro