Challenger Cup Men: Malta’s Sliema and San Giljan among the six teams to get off to winning starts

Malta’s two representatives – Sliema ASC and San Giljan ASC – both got off to winning starts on Day 1 of the men’s Challenger Cup Qualification Round on Friday. Elsewhere, there were crucial victories for Carouge Natation, AVK Branik Maribor, Enka Sport Club and RD Mouscronnois. With the top two teams from each group progressing to the next round, the first tickets are likely to be secured on Saturday.

2025/26 Challenger Cup Men
Qualification Round I, Day 1
Friday 28 November

Group A (Malta)

Sliema ASC (MLT) 18-13 Hapoel Palram Zvulun (ISR)
Apoel Nicosia (CYP) 10-26 San Giljan ASC (MLT)

Group B (Maribor)

VK Ljubljana Slovan (SLO) 9-13 Carouge Natation (SUI)
AVK Branik Maribor (SLO) 21-6 Clube Naval Povoense (POR)

Group C (Istanbul)

Enka Sport Club (TUR) 21-7 Heybeliada ASC (TUR)

Group D (Mouscron)

RD Mouscronnois (BEL) 15-12 Cetus Espoo (FIN)

Group A (Malta)

Sliema ASC (MLT) 18-13 Hapoel Palram Zvulun (ISR)
Apoel Nicosia (CYP) 10-26 San Giljan ASC (MLT)

Sliema ASC survived a spirited fightback from Hapoel Palram Zvulun to claim all the points from a pulsating opening fixture in Group A.

The Maltese giants looked relatively comfortable at 5-2 at the first break, despite going behind twice (0-1 and 1-2), but the Israelis came roaring back in the second quarter, levelling the scores on two occasions (6-6 and 7-7).

At this point, Sliema knew they had their work cut out and managed to head into half-time 8-7 up thanks to a strike from Sam Engerer 1:29 before the turnaround.

In the third, the battles continued, as Hapoel kept pushing and they were still within one (12-11) 2:31 before the last break.

Two late goals – from Liam Galea and a buzzer-beating effort from Dino Zammit – put Sliema back in charge at 14-11 ahead of the last quarter.

It looked as if Hapoel’s resistance was fading, and when Engerer opened the scoring in the fourth, it all but ended the contest.

Sliema captain Zammit was the standout performer, finishing the game with six goals, including three penalties.

Later, there was another victory for the home fans to celebrate, as San Giljan ASC outclassed Apoel Nicosia 10-26, which put both Maltese teams in a strong position in the group ahead of Day 2.

Group B (Maribor)

VK Ljubljana Slovan (SLO) 9-13 Carouge Natation (SUI)
AVK Branik Maribor (SLO) 21-6 Clube Naval Povoense (POR)

A slow start didn’t prove costly for Carouge Natation, as they fought back from 4-2 down to turn the tables in the second quarter and battled superbly to hold onto their lead.

Three goals without reply nudged the Swiss side in front 3:19 before half-time and they were never behind again. At half-time, they’d opened up a 5-7 advantage, and some fine shooting stretched their lead to four (7-11) by the end of the third.

Carouge Natation struck twice at the start of the fourth – including a penalty from Hugo Roscio, who ended the night with a four-goal haul – to put them up by an unassailable six, and although the Slovenians hit two consolations, the outcome was never in doubt.

In the later game, AVK Branik Maribor treated the home crowd to a water polo masterclass, running riot against Clube Naval Povoense in a 21-6 demolition.

An 8-0 surge to start the game set the tone, and the hosts showcased their lethal firepower with 11 of their players ending up on the scoresheet.

Group C (Istanbul)

Enka Sport Club (TUR) 21-7 Heybeliada ASC (TUR)

The all-Türkish duel ended in a lopsided victory for Enka Sport Club, as they thrashed their compatriots Heybeliada ASC 21-7.

A 7-1 first quarter put Enka firmly in command and there was no way back for Heybeliada, who continually struggled to get a foothold in the game.

By half-time, Enka were 12-2 clear and they continued to punish their opponents in the third, establishing a 17-4 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

The fourth saw Heybeliada finally find some rhythm and they would have won the last quarter had it not been for three consecutive Enka goals in the final four minutes.

Enka’s Berk Alkan was a constant threat, top-scoring with five goals, while Yusa Han Duzenli was also in fine form, hitting four.

The watching Welsh Wanderers will have seen they are in for a tough ride when they enter the action against Enka in this group on Saturday.

Group D (Mouscron)

RD Mouscronnois (BEL) 15-12 Cetus Espoo (FIN)

Cetus Espoo’s Uros Vasic produced an outstanding individual display against RD Mouscronnois, scoring seven goals, but it still wasn’t enough for his side to avoid defeat.

The Belgians also had a sharpshooter up their sleeve – Charles Canonne, who fired in six times – as the hosts edged out their Finnish opponents 15-12.

While Vasic hit the vast majority of his team’s goals, Canonne was ably supported by the likes of Bence Hegedus, who hit four, and Samy Labreg, who scored three.

The Finns were 1-3 up in the opening exchanges, but the hosts kept close and some clinical finishes saw them move 5-4 ahead by half-time.

With the gap standing at four (11-7) towards the end of the third, Mouscronnois looked to be cruising, but a stunning four-goal burst brought Cetus Espoo level at 11-11 with 6:09 remaining in the fourth.

Hegedus scored to end the Finns’ run, then two goals from Gibril Zaoui and one more from Hegedus swung the game back in the Belgians’ favour (15-11), and they were able to close the game out from there.

Canonne could have finished the night with seven goals, just like Vasic, but his penalty at the start of the second quarter came crashing back off the post.

West London Penguin start their campaign on Saturday against Cetus Espoo, and no doubt they’re already working on a plan to keep the prolific Vasic quiet.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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