Malta’s U-18 waterpolo national team made a perfect start to their European Championship finals campaign in Oradea, Romania, with a resounding 24-6 victory over Ukraine on Monday.
According to Sportsdesk, from the opening whistle, Jonathan Valletta’s squad dictated play, showing superior speed, precision, and teamwork. The result puts Malta within touching distance of the tournament’s Top 12, needing just one more win to advance.
Captain Jayden Cutajar and teammate Julian Chircop led the scoring charts, each bagging five goals. However, beyond the individual brilliance, it was Malta’s collective dominance that left Ukraine with little room to respond.
The first quarter set the tone, with six goals shared between Jayden Cutajar and Giancarlo Gatt, who both scored twice, alongside finishes from Sam Engerer and Sean Mifsud.
Although Ukraine tried to regroup in the second quarter, Malta extended their advantage with another six-goal blitz. Julian Chircop and Luigi Dimech struck twice apiece, while Jayden and Enrico Cutajar added their names to the tally.
By the third quarter, Malta’s control was unquestionable. Sam Engerer, Julian Chircop, Jayden Cutajar, and Kydon Agius all found the back of the net, stretching the lead to 16-6.
The final quarter was one-way traffic, as Malta pressed relentlessly and scored eight unanswered goals. Luigi Dimech, Jayden Cutajar, Shailon Cutajar Casha, Max Lanzon (2), Julian Chircop (2), and Miguel Cassar completed the emphatic rout.
Next up for Malta is a crucial clash against group favourites Germany, who opened their campaign with a 14-8 win over Georgia.
Well done, team Malta!