Maltese fall to fourth defeat

Malta 10
Macedonia 14
(1-3, 1-3, 5-5, 3-3)

Macedonia secured second place in Group A with victory over Malta yesterday.

Vladimir Kreckovic and Marko Basic each scored four for Macedonia, with Matthew Zammit hitting three for Malta who had captain Paul Privitera excluded three times.

Macedonia opened the scoring when Privitera was sent out and Risto Maljkovic converted. Ivan Vuksanovic doubled Macedonia's lead before Steve Camilleri opened Malta's account from a man-up situation. Basic then restored Macedonia's two-goal advantage.

Kreckovic opened the second-quarter scoring to extend Macedonia's lead. Malta then failed to convert a penalty and Macedonia capitalised to extend their advantage through Basic. Zammit replied with a man-up goal.

Maljkovic put Macedonia five goals ahead at the start of the third session but Malta narrowed the deficit through John Soler and Karl Montfort.

Pierre Borg's men moved to within two goals when Zammit fired home but Macedonia made an instant reaction, scoring goals through Basic and Kreckovic.

A man-up goal from Clint Mercieca again reduced the deficit before Camilleri conceded a penalty. Vuksanovic scored before Zammit claimed his second goal of the penultimate session.

Micic, Kreckovic and Basic scored to seal Macedonia's success. Montfort notched his second of the game but Macedonia restored their six-goal buffer through Maljkovic.

Michele Stellini and Soler were on target before the end but it was too late for Malta who slumped to their fourth defeat.

Malta finished second from bottom in Group A with three points. This afternoon, they face Ireland in a play-off for ninth to 12th place.

Malta: J. Cachia, N. Lanzon, P. Fava, P. Privitera, M. Meli, J. Soler 2 , S. Camilleri 1, J. Borg, K. Montfort 2, M. Zammit 3, C. Mercieca 1, M. Stellini 1, I. Bugeja.