Sirens set up a clash with champions San Ġiljan
SIRENS GREENTUBE 9 EXILES ELIA CATERERS 8 (3-2), (4-2), (1-4), (1-0) (Aggregate: 16-14)
Exiles Elia Caterers’s dream of advancing in the last four of the play-offs were shattered as they were also beaten in the second game by Sirens Greeentube. This was the fourth encounter between both teams.
Exiles won the first match 9-8, the second match ended in an 88 draw while Sirens won the last two encounters 7-6 and 9-8. This shows a clear balance between both teams and these two games could have gone either way.
Sirens therefore managed to recover after a disappointing first phase, while Exiles will be disappointed that they didn’t turn their splendid performances in the first two rounds to a more successful season. One must not forget the improvement that Exiles made this season, winning also against Neptunes for the first time and also against Sliema.
The hero for Sirens was surely Canadian Nicolas Bicari who scored an impressive six goals. He scored his first two in the first session to put Sirens 2-1 after the early goal by Timmy Sullivan. After the draw by Aurelien Cousin, Jacob Sciberras gave Sirens an important edge.
Bicari stepped in again to score a hat-trick in the second session, as Sirens were 7-4 in front by the end of the second session.
Exiles had to make a quick reaction to save the game and the qualification. Marco Cuk got his reaction as Exiles recovered with three consecutive goals by Mark Fenech, Sean Xerri de Caro and Slobodan Nikic. Marc Grech put Sirens 8-7 in front, but Aurelien Cousin equalised from penalty right at the end.
The decisive session proved to be nail-biting as the difference was minimal. Exiles needed to at least win by a goal to put the game to extra-time while a draw for Sirens was enough. Nicolas Bicari made it 9-8 to put Sirens in the last four.
Now they will face an uphill battle against reigning champions San Ġiljan.
N. Grixti, P. Privitera, E. Aquilina, N. Bicari (6), M. Grech (1), I. Riolo, C. Mercieca, J. Sciberras (1), J. Napier, J. Ciantar, L. Caruana, J. Brownrigg (1), A. Bugeja
M. Castillo, M. Fenech (2), A. Bianchi, M. Stellini, T. Sullivan (1), S. Xerri de Caro (1), S. Nikic (2), K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Cousin (2), B. Lanzon, P. Paris, G. Ciappara
Alex De Alessandro Severo Raffaele,
VALLETTA VIDEOSLOTS NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS (2-3), (1-5), (3-4), (1-2) (Aggregate: 13-29) 7 14
Neptunes Leo Vegas confirmed their place in the play-off semi-final defeating again Valletta Videoslots, this time with a seven-goal margin. They will face Sliema in a semi-final which will be played in a best out of three format.
Despite having their foreigner Petar Muslim missing, Nep- tunes controlled the game with ease, having in mind also that they started the game with a comfortable nine-goal lead from the first match.
By being eliminated, Valletta ended their commitments for this season, a campaign that they have to forget quickly after finishing at the bottom of the league and taking only a draw during the whole season.
Neptunes won the first session 3-2 as Stevie Camilleri put his team in front for the third time, after Valletta equalised in two occasions. They even made it 33 from Ryan Mock in the second session, but from then onwards, Neptunes took possession of the game and ended the same session with an 8-3 advantage.
The last two sessions served only for Neptunes coach Jovan Popovic to rotate his team, but they still had the upper-hand in the game.
Valletta relied on the quality of Hungarian Marthon Toth to find the net, while several players of Neptunes had the chance to score, as captain Niki Lanzon got a deserved rest.
Neptunes still won both sessions to end the game with a comfortable lead.
R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius (1), M. Mifsud, T. Agius, R. Mock (1), D. Paolella, M. Toth (4), N. Bonello Ghio, C. Zammit (1), N. Farrugia, L. Gialanze, M. Lanzon
A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, K. Erdogan (1), G. Pace (2), N. Zammit, S. Camilleri (6), J. Camilleri (2), J. Abela (1), M. Zammit (1), J. Muscat (1), M. Azzopardi, J. Parnis
Stefan Licari, Gianfranco Buonavita Championship Yesterday Aston Villa-Brentford ........................ 2-2 Blackburn-Reading ............................ 2-2 Norwich-Preston ............................... 2-0 Sheffield Wed-Millwall ..................... 2-1 Bolton-Birmingham .......................... 1-0 Stoke-Wigan ..................................... 0-3
League One Yesterday Gillingham-Sunderland ..................... 1-4 Scunthorpe-Fleetwood Town ........... 0-5
UEFA
Champions League Yesterday Ajax-Dyn. Kyiv .................................. 3-1 MOL Vidi-AEK Athens FC ................. 1-2 Young Boys-D. Zagreb ...................... 1-1