Gauci, Cremona steer Reggiana to victory in Belgium

Seven Maltese players have just taken part in the Major of Mons tournament in Belgium.

Massimo Cremona, Mark Gauci, Joe Borg Bonaci, Hansel Mallia, Charles Aquilina and Derek Conti took part in the Open category as Joe Mifsud opted to figure in the event for veterans.

On Day One of the tourna-ment, the players were involved in the teams' event.

Mifsud and Aquilina played for Palermo and failed to qualify from the group stages. Mallia, along with home side AS Hennuyer, lost in the quarter-finals and Borg Bonaci's Falcons Athens, of Greece, were beaten in the semis.

However, Gauci and Cremona were instrumental for their club, Italy's Reggiana, to win the team competition. In the final, they beat Milano to chalk up their second success in a row in this major tournament for clubs.

Day Two was reserved for the singles competition. All Maltese players qualified from the group stages bar Aquilina who was eliminated on goal difference.

In the Open category, Conti, Gauci and Mallia lost in the last 32 stage but Borg Bonaci and Cremona reached the last eight.

At this stage, Cremona was ousted by Carlos Flores while Borg Bonaci reached the final after shoot-out wins in the previous two rounds.

Flores proved too strong on the day, giving Borg Bonaci little chance in a fast game which went the Spaniard's way 4-0.

Mifsud qualified from the group stages in the veterans' tournament but only managed a last 16 berth where he lost to Nuno Nuronha, of Portugal, with a golden goal after a 1-1 draw.

During the same weekend in Belgium, Malta played an international friendly against Greece and the Maltese won 1-0.

The match was balanced and all games were close, Mallia eventually making the difference after winning his match to give Malta a prestigious result on the international scene.