Returning to guide Malta from the bench, coach Karl Izzo must have been pleased with his team’s diligent display resulting into an 11-4 victory over Israel.
It was an improved Malta which had the lads summoning oxygen and diligence thanks mainly to the inspiration of goalkeeper Alan Borg Cole, a near faultless performance from Jordan Camilleri and fine scoring opportunism mainly from Michele Stellini, Mark Meli, Matthew Zammit and Dino Zammit, each scorer of a brace.
It was deserved reward for Malta’s excellent covering tactics, based on press and eventual quick thrusts on the break.
A fine backhand from Gabaretta gave Malta the lead early on. Matthew Zammit, back in the side after serving suspension, converted a man-up to increase the advantage.
However, Israel reduced the gap through Ido Keren before the first session ended.
It had been press all the way.
Into the second session, Stellini converted a man-up and Dino Zammit resolved a break for a 4-1 scoreline. The local shooting from the outside five and six positions was not accurate enough. However, efficient blocking in front of a safe Borg Cole between the sticks made for a sound platform.
Ido Keren made it 4-2 but a flick from Camilleri and a backhand from Sean Gravina made it a sound lead before ends were changed.
Spurred by Borg Cole’s penalty save, the hosts went 8-2 ahead through Meli and Stellini before Yahel Murvitz Lahal cut down the deficit to 8-3 with only the last session to go.
The outlook was still looking bright for Malta given their fine teamwork and scoring acumen. Indeed the edge was rubber-stamped in the last session with the Maltese winning it 3-1 for an emphatic 11-4 victory.
The match between Ukraine and Belarus ended with a win for the former team who thus obtained their first three points in the group.
The Ukrainians were the stronger side, basing their play on rapid shifting of the ball and accurate shooting.
Apart from a brief moment in the first session, when Belarus made it 2-2, the winners held sway to keep increasing their advantage as the game prog-ressed.
Summaries
Ukraine 13
Belarus 5
(3-2, 3-1, 2-2, 5-0)
Ukraine : G. Petrov, O. Tsvirkun, T. Shylin 1, N. Ratkov 3, O. Dyadyura 3, S. Hrishyn, O. Abramov 2, E. Alyeksyeyev 1, V. Sytnyk 2, E. Voitenko 1, Y. Obedinskyy, D. Babaienko, D. Volonchuk.
Belarus : K. Kavalevski, P. Khrypachov, R. Kapatsevich, A. Kharlap, T. Shapurav, S. Mihutski 1, V. Ivanov 1, I. Tumas1, M. Chupryna 1, D. Charbashan 1, A. Fedaruk, V. Shantur.
Refs: K. Dvoracek, L. Krol.
Israel 4
Malta 11
(1-2, 1-4, 1-2, 1-3)
Malta: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, J. Gabaretta 1, M. Stellini 2, M. Meli 2, M. Zammit 2, S. Camilleri, J. Camilleri 1, J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina 1, T. Sullivan, D. Zammit 2, D.Camilleri.
Israel : G. Katzir, O. Polatsek, I. Keren 1, G. Strugo, I. Goldschmidt, Or Keren, D. Eros, E. Shoham, R. Yuval, Y. Murvitz Lahav 2, I. Peled 1, N. Cohen.
Refs: L. Santos, D. Rozman.
Playing today
9.30am Georgia vs Ukraine; 10.45am Belarus vs Israel; 5.30pm Belarus vs Georgia; 6.45pm Malta vs Ukraine.