The odds were again stacked against Valletta WPC in yesterday’s final match in the LEN Champions League Qualification Tournament against the strong Digi Oradea, of Romania.
As expected the Maltese were beaten by superior opponents. However, it was an edgy opening session which they lost 9-3, that mostly undermined their performance.
That they missed a berth among the first three-ranked teams in Group B and eventual qualification was no surprise.
It must also be pointed out that coach Karl Izzo could not bank on several key players.
At least the hosts battled on after that error-strewn start and managed a damage-limiting exercise when losing the middle sessions by the odd goal and shading the last 3-2.
Matthew Zammit was pivotal to the team’s efforts, providing the power from the centre and the main scoring ammunition when netting six goals to end the match as the overall top goal-getter.
Mark Meli, Jordan Camilleri, Edward Aquilina, Aurelien Cousin and Dino Zammit netted the other goals for Valletta yesterday.
SM Verona finished on top of the group after they defeated VK Budva 11-6 in the other match played yesterday.
Digi Oradea 18
Valletta 11
(9-3, 3-2, 4-3, 2-3)
Digi Oradea: G. Pijetlovic, R. Szabo 1, T. Negrean 4, D. Markovic 1, M. Chioveanu 3, A. Popoviciu, R. Georgescu 2, G. Dunca 2, M. Ghearghe 2, V. Kovats, D. Cretu 1, V. Cupic 2.
Valletta: A. Borg Cole, N. Bugelli, A. Galea, L. Caruana, M. Meli 1, M. Zammit 6; R. Mock, J. Camilleri 1, E. Aquilina 1, A. Cousin 1, C. Mercieca, D. Zammit 1, N. Grixti.
Refs: X. Buch, A. Voevodin.
Final standings: Verona 7 points, Oradea 5, Budva 4, Valletta 0.