Malta’s U18 national water polo team capped off a historic campaign at the European U18 Men’s Elite Water Polo Championships in Oradea, Romania, by finishing 9th overall. The result came after a thrilling playoff run, following Malta’s success in winning their preliminary group.
After topping their group stage with confident performances, Malta faced a tough challenge in the playoffs against European powerhouse Serbia. Despite a spirited effort, they fell 18–13, with Luigi Dimech (5 goals) and Jayden Cutajar (4 goals) leading the scoring.
The team responded in spectacular fashion. In the 9–12 placement playoff, Malta edged out Poland 15–14 in a nail-biting encounter. Julian Chircop (4 goals) and Cutajar (2) were instrumental, while Sam Engerer, Enrico Mallia, and Giancarlo Gatt added crucial strikes to secure victory.
That set up a decisive showdown against Germany for 9th place — and Malta rose to the occasion. In a dramatic contest that went to extra time, Malta triumphed 17–16, thanks to another standout performance from Cutajar (4 goals), alongside contributions from Dimech (3), Lanzon (1), Engerer (1), Chircop (1), Tabone (1), and Gatt (1).
By winning both classification matches, Malta sealed 9th place overall — a remarkable achievement that highlights the team’s growing competitiveness on the European stage.
The tournament also showcased Malta’s promising young talents, with Cutajar, Dimech, and Chircop standing out among the top scorers. More importantly, the squad demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and the ability to defeat respected water polo nations in high-pressure encounters.
This top-10 finish reinforces Malta’s reputation as one of Europe’s rising forces in youth water polo and underlines the success of the country’s development program.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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