Neptunes struck a psychological blow to their rivals on the eve of what promises to be another hot summer in waterpolo.

In a match which had the huge crowd rooted to their seats, Neptunes had the last laugh at the expense of San Ġiljan in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to lift the President’s Cup after the match had finished level at 11-all.

It was a final typical of the great sporting battles between these two giants in local waterpolo who renewed their sporting rivalry in typical colourful fashion yesterday in the summer’s curtain-raiser.

Boosted by Guillermo Molina’s brace on his return to San Ġiljan, Marko Orlovic’s men went out of the blocks in a decisive fashion to take a 4-2 lead by the end of the opening session.

The Saints’ upperhand was clear as they enjoyed a slight edge in the second session with their breaks unsettling Neptunes with Molina and Matthew Zammit scored again to extend their lead to 6-2.

Yet, it was balanced all the way with the centre-approach being crowded continuously.

With Jordan Camilleri on two personal faults early on, the Reds were forced to use him sparingly.

A first turning point arrived midway in the second session when Alan Borg Cole pulled off a stunning one-handed save to deny Molina from a penalty and prevent San Ġiljan from going 7-2 ahead.

Neptunes plucked up courage and fought back to lead 7-6 soon after the change of ends when Steve Camilleri converted two penalties in quick succession.

The balance kept tilting Neptunes’ way as it was the turn of San Ġiljan foreign duo Niksa Dobud and Molina to be caught on two expulsions.

At the start of the last session, Neptunes took a two-goal advantage only for some slack play to allow San Ġiljan to draw level with Steve Camilleri fouled out in the process.

At this point it was touch and go with Neptunes forging ahead on three occasions before San Ġiljan bounced back each time for an exciting last session to send the match into a penalty shoot-out.

Then. the last penalty, taken by Dino Zammit, was saved by keeper Borg Cole amid the jubilation of his team-mates and fans which reached a climax when the President’s Cup was presented to captain Niki Lanzon by the ASA chief Joe Caruana Curran.

Earlier, Marsaxlokk took some time to shake off Marsaskala’s challenge and could only pull away in the final part of the match.

Marsaxlokk’s new foreigner Ivan Nagaev stood out with seven goals, two of which in the last crucial session, to help last year’s champions retain again the Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport Cup.

Nevertheless, it was a close contest with Marsaxlokk the better starters when taking a three-goal lead at the end of the first session but Marsaskala hit back to go 8-8 in the third quarter.

Marsaxlokk’s edge was clear in the last session when Nagaev converted twice from the right to earn his side their third consecutive Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport Cup.

Stevie Camilleri, of Neptunes, tries a shot at goal against San Ġiljan. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

SUMMARIES

NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS 14

SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST         12

(2-4, 2-2, 3-0, 4-5; Neptunes win 3-1 on penalties)

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, K. Erdogan, G. Pace, P. Muslim 3, D. Brguljan 3,  S. Camilleri 3, J. Camilleri 3, J. Abela, N. Zammit, M. Azzopardi, B. Busuttil.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, B, Grech, A. Galea, N. Dobud 2, G. Molina 4, M. Zammit 4, B. Plumpton 1, K. Dowling, T. Said, Darren Zammit, P. Fava, Dino Zammit, T. Micallef.

Refs: Massimo Angileri, Giovanni Lo Dico.

Penalty sequence: Muslim (N) scored 1-0; M. Zammit (SG) scored 1-1; N. Lanzon (N) scored 2-1; Molina (SG) missed 2-1; J. Muscat (N) missed 2-1; Dobud (SG) missed 2-1; J. Camilleri (N) scored 3-1; Dino Zammit (SG) missed 3-1.

MARSAXLOKK BROWNS          13

MARSASKALA FISH & FISH      8

(4-1, 2-5, 3-2, 4-0)

Marsaxlokk: R. Coleiro, J. Galea, M. Cacici, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Martellacci, T. Agius, A. Vlahovic 2, I. Nagaev 7, S. Micallef 1, R. Scerri 1, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo 1, F. Buhagiar.

Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, A. Camenzuli, M. Manara, M. Aquilina, L. Grixti, K. Navarro 1, K. Milakovic 3, K. Averka, J Culic 2, R. Attard, D. Borg Millo, M. Borg, J. Ciantar 1, L. Felice 1

Refs: Peter Balzan, Riccardo Carmignani.

Other result

Women’s Super Cup: Exiles vs Sliema 15-4.