The Malta U-18 women’s water polo team experienced both joy and disappointment in their opening fixtures at the European Women’s Under-18 Championship, claiming a memorable win over Ireland before falling to Serbia in their second match.
Malta 14–11 Ireland
Malta made a dream start to the competition with a 14-11 victory against Ireland. The young Maltese side showed attacking flair and resilience throughout the match, with Eyla Schembri leading the charge by netting five goals. She was well supported by Ella Miceli (4 goals), Chloe Amato and Elisa Amato (2 goals each), and Nevisse Agius (1 goal).
For Ireland, Laura Cassaery stood out with 8 goals, while Lis Connery added 3 goals, but their efforts were not enough to deny Malta a winning debut.
Serbia 19–9 Malta
In their second outing, Malta faced a much sterner challenge and were defeated 19-9 by a strong Serbian side. Malta’s goals came from Elisa Amato, Ella Miceli, and Eyla Schembri (2 goals each), along with contributions from Chloe Amato, Kaylen Cutajar, and Elisa Gatt (1 goal apiece).
Serbia displayed depth and attacking firepower, with Cuk, Radicic, and Jankovic each netting three times, while Balajic, Peljic, Izovic, E. Cuk, and Milekovic also got on the scoresheet.
What’s Next
With one win and one defeat, Malta remain competitive in their group as they continue their campaign in the European Championship. The opening win against Ireland highlighted the team’s potential, while the Serbia match offered valuable lessons against top-level opposition.
Malta now face Ukraine today in their final group match, aiming to secure a second victory and strengthen their chances of advancing further in the competition.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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