SLIEMA FRANK SALT 7
SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST 9
(1-1), (2-2), (2-4), (2-2)
Champions San Ġiljan TUM Invest are the only team with maximum points as they beat Sliema Frank Salt 9-7 in a match in which Croatian Paulo Obradovic showed glimpses of his talent, scoring five goals that were crucial for his team to win the game. This was San Giljan’s 44th win in a row.
Sliema were coming from two important and convincing wins against Sirens and Neptunes respectively. They had the upper hand in certain parts of the game and looked to be in the driving seat to stop the winning streak of their opponents, but two goals from Obradovic paved the way for the Saints’ win.
The Croatian power house started the match scoring after 20 seconds, but Sliema equalised from Christian Presciutti. In the second session, Sliema took the lead twice but this time it was San Ġiljan’s turn to respond back, as both teams finished the second session 3-3.
Ben Plumpton and Michael Spiteri Staines were sent off for good after Obradovic put San Ġiljan in the lead. Sliema turned the tables with two goals from Michael Cordina and youngster David Fenech, but San Ġiljan were quick to respond and scored three times in the last three minutes of the third session for a 7-5 score.
Dino Zammit faded Sliema’s hopes in the beginning of the last session, as he gave San Ġiljan a three-goal lead for the first time. Sliema tried to get back in the game and scored from Presciutti, but another powerful goal by Paulo Obradovic closed the game.
Sliema: J. Sammut, J. Gabarretta (1), C. Presciutti (2), J. Saliba, M. Meli, K. Dowling, M. Spiteri Staines (1), D. Fenech (1), M. Cordina (1), J. Gambin, Z. Mizzi (1), N. Bugelli, Z. Sciberras
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea, B. Grech, C. Farrugia, M. Zammit, B. Plumpton, Da. Zammit, T. Said, P. Obradovic (5), P. Fava (1), Di. Zammit (2), T. Micallef
Referees: Mario Dalli, Vittorio Frauenfelder
Source: www.independent.com.mt