Late goals edge Blues close to final

As expected holders Sliema McDonald’s made practically sure of a berth in the BOV Knock-Out final after a four-goal victory margin over 3XC Exiles which should be an adequate cushion for them ahead of Tuesday’s second leg.

However, the Blues could only breathe freely in the latter stages of the game, with the turning point coming after Marco Cuk, scorer of four goals for Exiles, missed a crucial penalty with his team 10-8 behind.

This episode was followed by four quick goals midway through the last session by the Blues for whom Bogdan Rath, Jerome Gabaretta and Mark Meli each scored a hat-trick.

A two-goal start for the Blues, for whom John Soler was absent, was annulled within two minutes before Exiles nosed in front late in the first session. It had been double shielding on the centre at both ends with little to choose between the teams.

Sliema turned the tables in the second quarter. Early goals from Raymond Fodor and Meli had Martin Calleja responding, but a brace from Rath made it 6-4 for the Blues before the changeover.

The definite expulsion of Timmy Sullivan after three fouls midway through the session was a big blow to Exiles’ aspirations.

With Aurelien Cousin looking out of his depth, Exiles’ cause was not being helped. Paul Privitera gave the Blues a three-goal lead on 7-4 before Julian Rizzo Naudi scored twice to cut the leeway to 7-6 midway through the third session.

Two quick goals from Gabaretta restored Sliema’s three-goal lead but Cuk, who was being constantly marked by Fodor, netted his third for a 9-7 scoreline at the end of the third quarter.

Exiles were still full of fight. David Pace Lupi pulled another goal back only for Daniel Paolella to make it 10-8.

Cuk’s missed penalty here proved costly as Gabaretta’s excellent swivelling conversion and another goal from Meli put Sliema’s minds at rest.

It was all downhill for the Blues who went on to seal victory on 14-10.

The second match of the day, valid for the Second Division Knock-out, between Ta’ Xbiex ASC and Otters Nivea turned out to be a close affair between two balanced teams with the result going the way of the Gżira outfit by a one-goal margin which leaves the two-legged tie undecided.

The match had the seal of Hungarian Tamasz Gyrovath who pulled the trigger no fewer than nine times out of the 16 goals scored by his team.

The ding-dong flavour was a feature of this entertaining 31-goal contest where two generous teams fought it out till the end.

The opening session ended 4-3 for the Gozitans who always made their opponents chase the scoreline. Marco Balatoni, for Otters, scored the first two of his four goals.

From 4-3 up, the Gozitan team receded to a 9-7 deficit as Gyrovath continued his scoring stint.

The contest remained balanced at this point, moreso after the battling Otters annulled their disadvantage to go 10-9 ahead midway through the third quarter. Parity was restored on 11-11 at the end of the session.

More was in store in the final eight minutes of the game as goals alternated, with Ta’ Xbiex emerging winners by 16-15 ahead of Tuesday’s second leg.

Before yesterday’s matches a minute silence was observed in memory of Mary Fenech Adami, the wife of President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, who passed away earlier in the day.

Exiles 10
Sliema 14
(3-2, 1-4, 3-3, 3-5)

Exiles : A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 2, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi 2, T. Sullivan 1, M. Calleja 1, M. Cuk 4, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin, J. Paris, A. Sciberras, K. Lanzon.

Sliema : R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta 3, N. Lubrano, R. Fodor 2, M. Meli 3, M. Spiteri Staines, D. Paolella 2, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, P. Privitera 1, B. Rath 3, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Abela.

Refs: M. Angileri, R. Colombo.

Ta’ Xbiex 16
Otters 15
(3-4, 6-3, 2-4, 5-4)

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, M. Paris, S. Vassallo, C. Cluett 2, D. Borg, J.C. Decelis, T. Gyrovath 9, E. Bonello 2, M. Cordina, M. Spiteri, R. Attard, B. Muscat, J. Szeles 3.

Otters: J. Cremona, G. Attard 2, G. Zammit, Z. Radocz 4, D. Schembri 1, K. Scicluna 2, M. Balatoni 4, S. Dimech 2, G. Tabone, M. Dimech, S. Scerri, G. Xuereb, K. Grima Scott.

Refs: S. Licari, R. Spiteri.

Playing today: Division Two KO SF first leg 5.30 p.m. Valletta vs Marsascala. Division One KO second leg 6.45 p.m. Sirens vs San Ġiljan.