San Ġiljan, Sirens level after exciting first leg

San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s and Sirens Ritter Sport figured in a keen first-leg duel between two balanced teams which left this two-match contest on an even keel before tomorrow’s second encounter.

The tie seemed to be going the way of San Ġiljan after a strong take-off which at one moment had them taking a 7-2 lead. But Sirens, led by astute Predrag Simonjic from the bench, produced a remarkable turnaround in the game to draw level by the time the contest was over, as San Ġiljan looked somewhat drained.

Sirens were thus rewarded for their efforts, mostly thanks to the six-goal haul netted by Goran Krstonosic who reappeared in the team list. For the Saints their chief scorers were Karl Galea with five goals and Filip Trajkovic with four.

Galea was the fore of the Saints’ bright start despite Sirens’ early opener. The in-form centre had already struck four times as San Ġiljan asserted their superiority to take a 6-2 lead by the end of the opening quarter.

Karl Izzo’s team’s timely breaks and ability to unmark the units in the half zone were unsettling the northerners as they often earned 4-3 attacking situations and expulsions in their favour.

However, it was status quo in the second part of the game with two goals being shared. Sirens, with Csaba Kiss in lieu of Balas Nyeki, pulled two goals back sandwiching the Saints’ eighth conversion for an 8-6 scoreline before Kiss closed the gap to one goal with the last session left.

Sirens were back in it after upstaging their opponents 4-1 in that penultimate quarter.

The St Paul’s Bay team drew level from a penalty throw before quick goals restored San Ġiljan’s lead at 10-8.

Sirens were back to close the gap with the contest building to a crescendo in the last couple of minutes.

The livewire Alex Attard drew the teams level. Quick goals at each end netted by Trajkovic and Kiss made it 11-11 after which the Saints missed a crucial man-up with Zimonjic cleverly calling for a time-out in the last 11 seconds.

San Ġiljan 11
Sirens 11
(6-2, 1-1, 1-4, 3-4)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, N. Sutic 2, K. Galea 5, F. Trajkovic 4, K. Dowling, L. Grixti, A. Bianchi, K. Galea, C. Gialanze, P. Fava, A. Galea, K. Schembri.

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard 2, P. Micallef, P. Borg, T. Kiss 2, R. Mock, J. Borg, D. Cutajar, G. Krstonosic 6, C. Zammit 1, L. Caruana, D. Zammit, C. Mercieca.

Refs: M. Dalli, R. Colombo.

Playing today: 6.45 p.m. Div. One KO semi-final Exiles vs Sliema; 8 p.m. Division Two KO semi-final Ta’ Xbiex vs Otters.