Maltese sides face mixed fortunes in European Water Polo Challenger Cup

It was a night of contrasting results for Maltese water polo as San Ġiljan ASC and Sirens ASC continued their campaigns in the second qualification round of the European Aquatics Women’s Challenger Cup. While the hosts celebrated a dominant victory at the Cottonera Sports Complex, Sirens faced a tough hurdle in their away fixture in Turkey.

Playing on home soil, San Ġiljan ASC delivered a statement performance with a commanding 17–11 victory over Serbian giants ŽVK Crvena Zvezda. The Maltese side took control from the opening sprint, building a steady lead that the visitors simply could not close.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Elena Borg, whose incredible nine-goal haul spearheaded the San Ġiljan attack. She was well-supported by Ella Miceli, who netted four times, and Marierose Tully, who added two. The disciplined Maltese defense, combined with a relentless offensive rhythm, ensured they remained ahead across all four quarters.

The news was less positive for Sirens ASC, who saw their unbeaten run come to an end following a high-scoring battle against Turkish side Göztepe. In a match characterized by rapid transitions and heavy scoring, Göztepe utilized their home-pool advantage to secure a 27–16 win.

Despite the loss, Sirens showed great spirit in the final session. Ferreira led the scoring for the Maltese side with six goals, followed closely by Perici Ferrante with five. Bartolo (2), Amato (1), Montfort (1), and Agius (1) also found the net, but they were unable to contain Göztepe’s offensive depth, which saw Wright (8 goals) and Kuss (5 goals) dominate the scoreline.

Both teams remain in contention for the Challenger Cup Final Four. San Ġiljan looks to solidify their top-two position in Group A to ensure qualification, while Sirens will aim to bounce back in their remaining fixtures to keep their European dreams alive.