Dutch thwart Malta with late equaliser

Malta 10
Netherlands 10
(1-2, 3-1, 3-5, 3-2)

Malta was heading to an impressive victory over the Netherlands in a decisive group qualifier from the European 'B' Championship in Lugano yesterday but the Dutch rode their luck to score twice late in the match and escape with a draw that kept both sides in contention for a place in the semi-finals.

Malta and the Netherlands were playing their last match from Group B and victory for Sergio Afric's team would have meant a runners-up position in the final standings behind group winners Great Britain.

A draw was not sufficient for the Maltese as the Dutch started the match with a vastly superior goal average that ultimately tilted the balance in their favour.

Malta, with a qualifying round record of three wins, a draw and a defeat, will now play against the technically-gifted Turkey in tomorrow's quarter-final in Lugano. The winners of this match will play Great Britain in Saturday's semi-final.

Turkey finished second in Group A behind France who won all their five matches. The Netherlands were paired with Slovenia.

Yesterday's match was evenly balanced at the half-way stage with Malta holding a one-goal lead (4-3). However, the Dutch hit back strongly in the third session to cancel their deficit and open an 8-7 advantage.

Malta scored three times in succession as the fourth session got underway with the Dutch pulling one back on 10-9 and less than two minutes remaining on the clock. John Soler had a chance to restore the national team's two-goal lead but his shot from close in was saved.

From the counter-break, the Netherlands found a way past Josie Cachia to score a decisive equaliser with only a handful of seconds left.

Steve Camilleri scored four of Malta's goals yesterday and Niki Lanzon was on the mark three times. The other goals came from Soler, John Brownrigg and Matthew Pisani.

Malta: J. Cachia, A. Borg Cole, J. Gabaretta, S. Camilleri 4, C. Debono, M. Pisani 1, P. Privitera, J. Valletta, M. Stellini, J. Soler 1, M. Meli, J. Brownrigg 1, N. Lanzon 3.

Results

Group A: Denmark vs Turkey 6-11; Ukraine vs France 7-18; Slovenia vs Belarus 9-8.

Group B: Poland vs Great Britain 5-13; Malta vs Netherlands 10-10; Georgia vs Switzerland 19-10.

Standings

Group A: France 15; Turkey 12; Slovenia 9; Belarus 6; Ukraine 3; Denmark 0.

Group B: Great Britain 12; Netherlands, Malta 10; Georgia 9; Switzerland 3; Poland 0.

Fixtures (tomorrow)

15:00 Ukraine vs Poland; 16:30 Denmark vs Switzerland; 18:00 Turkey vs Malta; 19:30 Slovenia vs Netherlands.