Futsal team throw away 3-0 lead to lose silver medal

Malta's Futsal team, of Michael Molzahn and Daniel Buhagiar, yesterday threw away a 3-0 lead against Spain B at the De La Salle in a decisive tie with a silver medal at stake.

With Spain A already sure of the gold medal after winning all their four matches, the remaining issue was who will finish runners-up.

Malta had a superb start going in for the break 2-0 up and adding a third goal after the break. However, despite facing a partisan crowd on the terraces, Spain B hit back boldy to score six times without reply and claim the silver medal. Malta had to settle for bronze.

Our scorers were Matthew Bartolo (2) and Ryan Darmanin, Last year, the Futsal team also finished third in Hungary. One hopes that the next edition in Spain will bring better luck for the boys.

Malta's 11-a-side football team was out of the medals' zone. However, they finished on a bright note yesterday after beating the US 6-1 in a play-off for fifth place.

Flanders beat France 6-4 on penalties in the final. The latter had made it through after an ill-tempered semi-final against Spain A which the latter lost after a contested golden goal. Spain A eventually finished third.

The two Maltese basketball teams in yesterday's play-offs for third place had a bold task facing them as Flanders, our opponents in the two categories, were considered to be a step higher in technique and skills.

The final outcomes proved all predictions right as the boys' team went down 84-58 and the girls lost 79-25.

Handball team third

The boys' handball team had better luck though despite losing their last match from the round robin tournament against eventual silver medallists Spain B 24-17.

The Maltese finished third thanks to a superior goal difference than Belgium whose 25-20 win over Portugal in the last match of the competition proved futile.

Spain A won the tournament with maximum points.

Malta finished the 54th edition of the FISEC Games with an impressive tally of 27 medals, six of which were gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze.

This was by far the best performance ever by the Maltese student athletes in these Games. Last year in Hungary, 13 medals were won and only one of them was gold.

Britain won the biggest amount of gold medals in Malta - 26 in all.