San Ġiljan Giuseppe overcame Sirens Ritter Sport in the main match of the day when finally pulling away for a three-goal victory margin over opponents who lost their touch in the latter stages of the game in spite of a very healthy seven on eight recordsheet on man-ups.
The Saints had more guns in their ranks and owe their success mainly to Filip Trajkovic, Nikola Sutic and Christian Gialanze who netted 12 goals between them. As a result of this victory, San Ġiljan start the second phase on a two-point bonus, relegating Sirens to one point.
The Saints’ 3-0 headstart, with Gialanze scoring a brace, was partly neutralised by their opponents who closed the gap in the first session to 4-3. The exchanges were balanced in the second quarter and shown by the sharing of six goals.
While Sirens kept up their clean sheet on man-ups, their opponents squandered two more chances on similar sets. Still it was everything to play for as the teams changed ends.
Two quick goals by Sirens gave them the lead for the first time but Gialanze soon equalised with his fourth conversion before the Saints regained the lead on 10-9.
Then many thought that a San Ġiljan player should have been dismissed with a two-on-one situation for Sirens and a clear scoring opportunity for them. But referee Peter Balzan thought otherwise.
Three quick goals at the start of the last session gave San Ġiljan a four-goal buffer and a welcome breather, with the Saints losing their earlier rhythm. The three-goal lead was maintained till the end.
A nine-goal blitz in the third quarter earned 3CX Exiles an 18-7 win over Marsascala meat.com.mt in yesterday’s opening match, a result that has preserved Exiles’ top-league status at the expense of the south-seasiders who, however, start their commitments in the second division with four bonus points.
This goal-rush, sparked off mainly by Marco Cuk, ended any hopes Marsascala might have entertained of maintaining their solid start and possibly spring a surprise as they led 5-4 at the end of the second session.
Marsascala were more effective in the opening session and took a surprise 3-1 lead before Exiles levelled matters. But the southerners regained their advantage just before the first quarter ended.
The southerners had a good defensive shield on set play, but some hurried shots when in possession made them vulner-able on their opponents’ breaks.
Exiles equalised on 4-4 but were caught napping by a last-ditch goal which left them in arrears at mid-point.
Suddenly, Joe Caruana Dingli’s team found their scoring touch as their opponents lost their earlier assurance. The goals came regularly and a 13-5 scoreline ended the duel as a contest with one quarter left.
Only statistics mattered then as the Sliema team finished the job with Cuk topping their scorers’ list with a naphand of goals followed by Karl Rizzo Naudi on four.
Standings
Division One: Neptunes 5 points; Sliema 3; San Ġiljan 2, Sirens 1, Exiles 0.
Division Two: Marsascala 4 points, Valletta 2, Otters 1, Ta’ Xbiex 0.
Exiles 18
Marsascala 7
(3-4, 1-1, 9-0, 5-2)
Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, C. Rizzo Naudi 4, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan 1, M. Calleja 3, M. Cuk 5, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 1, J. Paris 2, A. Sciberras, K. Lanzon.
Marsascala: S. Farrugia, C. Spiteri De Barro, D. Caruana, Mil. Koralji 2, M. Pace 1, E. Arrigo, J. Licari, S. Micallef 1, R. Scerri, D. Cassar, A. Zammit 1, Mih. Koralji 2.
Refs: M. Angilleri, M. Monnis.
Sirens 12
San Ġiljan 15
(3-4, 3-3, 3-3, 3-5)
Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard, P. Micallef, P. Borg 1, B. Nyeki 4, R. Mock, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, P. Zimonjic, C. Zammit 2, L. Caruana, D. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca 3.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar 2, N. Sutic 4, K. Galea 1, P. Trajkovic 4, L. Grixti, A. Bianchi, M. Borg Spiteri, C. Gialanze 4, P. Fava, A. Galea, K. Schembri.
Refs: P. Balzan, G. Del Bosco.