San Ġiljan 9
Sliema 19
(4-3, 1-5, 2-8, 2-3)

In the first semi-final of this year's KO competition, the tie between San Ġiljan Tropicana Juices and Sliema McDonald's resulted in a casual outing for the Blues who did not have to go beyond the eventual stepping up before dismissing the Saints for a place in next Sunday's final.

The opening session may well have reserved aspirations for the Saints of a bold challenge from them as they had the better of their opponents by the odd goal in seven.

But, Igor Gocanin's team read the signs and quickly charged their batteries to overturn the scoreline in the second session, after which they went into cruise control against a team who only presented ten units and were again without Vladimir Kreckovic.

Up till three minutes from the end of the second session, the Saints had always edged in front, with Cain Lanzon (twice), Radu Gospodinov, Matthew Pace and Paul Fava drilling past Ryan Coleiro who replaced captain Josie Cachia in goal.

But goals from Clint Debono, Raymond Fodor and Jonathan Valletta gave the Blues a three-goal cushion at the half-way mark. Sliema's earlier goals came from Otto Frick (two), James Falzon, Fodor and John Soler.

There was an avalanche of goals in the third quarter, with Fodor netting three, Soler two and the other goals coming from Valletta, Debono and Daniel Paolella, while the Saints replied through a brace from Andrea Bianchi.

After those middle sessions, the match, controlled by the Maltese duo Mario Dalli and Peter Balzan, had nothing more to offer other than statistical data.

The Blues, who kept recycling their playing outfit, eased off somewhat but were still good enough to finish handsome winners with the last-session goals coming from Debono (two) and Paolella. Bianchi and Lanzon scored for the Saints.

Playing today

Division Two KO SF 5.30 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Ta' Xbiex.

Division One KO SF 6.45 p.m. Neptunes vs Sirens.

San Ġiljan
D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, R. Gospodinov 1, E. Arrigo, A. Bianchi 3, M. Pace 1, A. Borda, P. Fava 1, J. Xerri de Caro, C. Lanzon 3.

Sliema
J. Cachia, J. Gabaretta, E. Aquilina, R. Fodor 5, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella 2, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono 4, J. Valletta 2, J. Falzon 1, O. Frick 2, R. Coleiro.

Referees: M. Dalli, P. Balzan.

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