Malta’s challenging campaign in the Water polo World Cup Division Two continued as they suffered their third consecutive defeat, falling 23-6 to a dominant Montenegro side. While the two nations have crossed paths three times previously in European competition, this encounter marked their first-ever meeting on the World Cup stage.

Montenegro’s Clinical Attack

From the opening whistle, Montenegro showcased their superior firepower, led by a standout performance from Mosokov, who spearheaded the attack with a clinical 6-goal haul. He was well-supported by Gojocovic, who netted four times, and Radovic, who added a hat-trick.

The scoring was distributed across the roster, emphasizing Montenegro’s depth. Macic, Vojovic, Cetkovic, and Matokovic all contributed two goals apiece, while Javovic and Nononvic each found the back of the net once to complete the lopsided scoreline.

Milestones Amidst Defeat

Despite the heavy scoreboard, the match provided a significant personal milestone for the Maltese side. Finn Bugelli made history by scoring his first-ever goal for the national team, a bright spot in a difficult afternoon for the locals.

Jake Cachia was the top scorer for Malta with two goals, while Julian Valletta, Jeremy Abela, and Ivan Nagaev also managed to breach the Montenegrin defense with a goal each.

While the gulf in class was evident, the Maltese squad will look to take these individual successes and the experience of facing top-tier opposition into their upcoming fixtures as they continue their development in Division Two.