MALTA 10
BULGARIA 9
(3-0, 2-3, 3-3, 2-3)
The Malta women’s U-17 national team achieved a prestigious result at the European Championships when they beat Bulgaria 10-9 to finish in 15th place in the competition held in Sibenik, Croatia.
For the Maltese girls this was their second victory in the 19-team competition and surely they return home with their heads held high for the commitment and determination shown during the past seven days.
The Maltese girls showed their intentions right from the outset against the Bulgarians when they raced to a three-goal lead inside the opening session, courtesy of goals from Kaia Agius (2) and Martha Perici Ferrante.
The Bulgarians tried to hit back and they started to step up a gear in the second session but found the Maltese girls ready to fight.
In fact, Bulgaria netted three times but further goals from Perici Ferrante and Agius kept the Maltese 5-3 ahead when ends were changed.
The third session turned out to be a nail-biter with the two teams sharing six goals with Nadia Azzopardi, Perici Ferrante and Agius on the mark to take the Maltese 8-6 with one session to go.
In the final quarter, Bulgaria stepped up their game and mounted a late fightback but the Maltese girls held on as goals from Azzopardi and Elisa Amato enabled them to hang on to the win.
MALTA: Alexia Amato, Elaya Montfort, Kaia Agius 4, Nadia Azzoparrdi 2, Martha Perici Ferrante 3, Elisa Amato 1, Mackenzie Falzon, Martina Darmanin, Ezmily Mifsud, Choe Amato, Zaira Bartolo, Zea Cutajar Licari, Elisa Spiteri.
