Malta 9 Slovakia 17

(1-4, 2-3, 4-5, 2-5)

The Maltese waterpolo national team were well beaten by Slovakia in a positional play-off at the European Championships in Belgrade.

Karl Izzo’s men gave everything they had but the Slovakians proved simply too strong to coast to a comfortable 17-9 win.

The Slovakians built their victory after a slick first-session performance where they surged into a 4-1 lead and from then on they simply administered their advantage in the middle sessions before pulling again away in the final session.

Steve Camilleri scored the majority of Malta’s goals when netting six times with Matthew Zammit, Mark Meli and Ben Plumpton also on the scoresheet.

Malta will now have one final chance to avoid bottom spot in the championships when on Friday they play the loser of the play-off between Turkey and Georgia who meet on Thursday.  

Malta: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, J. Gabaretta, N. Bugelli, M. Meli 1, M. Zammit 1, S. Camilleri 6; J. Camilleri, J. Brownrigg, A. Cousin, B. Plumpton 1, D. Zammit, N. Grixti.

Slovakia, L. Kozmer, M. Famera 5, J. Zatovic 1, J. Hrosik 2, L. Durik 4, S. Balaz 2, L. Seman, M. Tkac 1, T. Bielik, K. Polovic, M. Kolarik 2, T. Bruder, M. Gogola.

Referees: Luis Santos (Portugal), Boris Margeta (Slovenia).

 

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