SIRENS ASC…………………..8
NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS….9
(3-2), (0-2), (2-4), (3-1)
Neptunes Leo Vegas returned to winning ways as they held on to beat a very confident Sirens 9-8 to climb into third place and keep up their title hopes well alive. It was a very tense game, as Neptunes knew before the game that only a win will do, but had to work very hard to finish the game as winners.
Sirens confirmed their potential in this game but again fell short this time by a goal, after losing to San Ġiljan 9-7 earlier in the week. Sirens were so close to take something from this game as they shared the game with their opponents and continued to fight even when things seemed to slip away. Christian Presciutti was again their chief scorer, scoring six from the eight goals of his team.
A bright start for Afric’s as they won the first session 3-2. Timmy Agius responded to Christian Presciutti’s opener, but Sirens made it 3-1 with goals from David Cutajar and Presciutti, as Jordan Camilleri reduced the deficit with a goal late in the first session. Neptunes managed to turn the tables in the second session scoring twice without conceding from brothers Stevie and Jordan Camilleri to enter the break with a 4-3 lead.
Presciutti scored his third goal of the game after the restart to equalise, but Neptunes opened a two-goal lead from Timmy Agius and Stevie Camilleri, and maybe some of those present thought that the Champions will control the game. Presciutti continued to score for his team, but Stevie Camilleri that his team finishes the session with a three-goal cushion.
Sergio Afric’s team went all out to enter back into the game, and thanks to goals by Presciutti and a brilliant lob from Brownrigg, the deficit was trimmed to only one goal. Stevie Camilleri’s fourth goal from close range with less than a minute and a half for the end of the game seemed to seal the deal, but Sirens kept playing and Presciutti scored again with 26 seconds left to play to set up an emotional finish.
Neptunes had possession which they lost with about 14 seconds to play, losing also Miguel Zammit. Sirens attacked with a man-up, but the final shot by Clint Mercieca hit the post. A sigh of relief for Neptunes winning 9-8.
Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Zerafa Gregory, C. Presciutti (4), J. Sciberras, M. Grech, I. Riolo, M. Sciberras, D. Cutajar (1), J. Napier, J. Brownrigg, L. Caruana, O. Gauci, C. Mercieca
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, T. Agius (2), J. Culic, R. Blary (1), S. Gravina, S. Camilleri (3), J. Camilleri (2), J. Abela, M. Zammit, M. Tabone, M. Azzopardi, I. Bugeja
Referees: Massimo Angileri, Antonio Pascucci
link – Malta Independen
