Young Malta side disappoints against Slovenia
Slovenia beats a disappointing Malta side
Malta lost against Slovenia in the semi‐final of the 13th to 16th place play‐offs, and now Malta has again to face Israel for the 15th place.
The young inexperienced Malta side yesterday was rather disap‐ pointing yesterday and much more was expected after encour‐ aging performances such as that against Germany and Israel.
Malta defended well yesterday but it failed miserably in attack missing a lot of chances in the final meters were at times the ball simply could not get in.
Slovenia took the lead but Jay‐ den Cutajar equalised with a man‐up situation. Slovenia missed a penalty but Troppan again gave Slovenia the lead was Zammit was out of the pool. Malta missed a man‐up but with 40 seconds to go Liam Galea made it 2‐2.
Malta went ahead for the first time at the start of the second quarter with a Jayden Cutajar drive. Santak was sent off and Jake Muscat made it 4‐2. Kadivec pulled one back and Troppan made it 4‐4. Cachia made it 5‐4 but when Azzopardi was sent off, Troppan immediately made it 5‐ 5.
Malta was again with a man down when Gianni Farrugia was sent off and Troppan scored his fourth of the game to make it 6‐5 for Slovenia.
At the start of the third session Abela was sent off and Stefanovic made it 7‐5. This was Malta’s worst patch and Santak made it 8‐5. Malta’s dismal showing reached a climax when Cachia missed a sitter after a fast break.
Malta missed another two man‐ up possibilities as the Slovenia goalkeeper saved almost every‐ thing. With five seconds to go Jayden Cutajat converted a penalty for an 8‐6 score before the final session.
In the final session Malta missed two man‐ups as the Mal‐ tese simply could not put the ball at the back of the net. On the other end Stefanovic made it 9‐6 as this seemed to be the final blow for Malta. Another man‐up for Slovenia and Kadivec made it 10‐6. Jayden Cutajar scored his fourth of the game making it 10‐ 7 and Cachia with the final shot of the game made it 10‐8.