Challenger Cup Men: Zaibas and Galatasaray reach first European club final of season

Zaibas advanced to the Challenger Cup Men final for the second consecutive season, while Galatasaray will compete for the trophy again after their triumph in 2024. The Lithuanians edged past Sliema in a thrilling semifinal that went to a penalty shootout, while the hosts enjoyed a far more comfortable evening in the other last-four clash as ENKA were unable to keep pace with them in the Istanbul derby. Elsewhere, San Giljan secured fifth place in the Final Eight with a victory over Branik Maribor, while Vitoria Sport Clube comfortably defeated Heybeliada to finish seventh.

2025/26 Challenger Cup Men
Final Eight – Semifinals
(Istanbul, Türkiye)
Saturday 14 March

EVK Zaibas (LIT) 13-13 (5-3P) Sliema ASC Nexawin (MLT)
Galatasaray (TUR) 20-9 Enka Sport Club (TUR)

5th-6th classification final

AVK Branik Maribor (SLO) 9-24 San Giljan ASC (MLT)

7th-8th classification final

Vitoria Sport Clube (POR) 18-9 Heybeliada ASC (TUR)

9th-12th classification
(Mouscron, Belgium)
Tournament report to follow on Sunday

Carouge Natation (SUI) 14-9 Cetus Espoo (FIN)
RD Mouscronnois (BEL) 33-7 VK Banja Luka (BIH)
Cetus Espoo (FIN) 31-12 VK Banja Luka (BIH)
RD Mouscronnois (BEL) 10-9 Carouge Natation (SUI)

Final Eight – Semifinals

EVK Zaibas (LIT) 13-13 (5-3P) Sliema ASC Nexawin (MLT)

Zaibas will have another shot at the Challenger Cup trophy after losing a painfully close final a year ago. They edged out Sliema in a thriller – the Maltese were also beaten in the semifinals last season in similarly tight fashion (that time on a home-and-away basis, losing by one goal on aggregate).

The Lithuanians made the stronger start, jumping to a 2-0 lead, while Sliema only got on the scoreboard 1:23 before the first break when Aleksandar Ivovic converted a six-on-five. The Croatian pair Marin Vrdoljak and Marko Jelaca then stepped up in the second period to keep Zaibas ahead, and the Lithuanians held a narrow 5-4 advantage at half-time.

Early in the third quarter the momentum shifted, as Sliema’s experienced duo Niccolo Gitto and Ivovic led a quick 3-0 run in just 1:40 to turn the game around.

Zaibas responded with two goals of their own, with a successfully killed man-down between them, but Ivovic restored Sliema’s momentum by converting a penalty with 2:37 left in the period.

Liam Galea added another goal, and Ivovic followed with one of his trademark 6m shots to extend the Maltese side’s lead to 7-10 heading into the final eight minutes.

Sliema appeared to have the game under control, but the fourth quarter brought a dramatic twist.

Jelaca scored from action just 22 seconds after the restart to reduce the deficit. Soon after, tensions boiled over which resulted in Elijah Schembri receiving a four-minute expulsion, while Sliema’s assistant coach was also shown the exit.

Zaibas immediately capitalised. Jelaca converted the penalty and then, 48 seconds later, struck again to level the score at 10-10.

Despite playing five-on-six, Jayden Cassar managed to fire in a 6m shot to put Sliema back in front, and the Maltese side also managed to survive Zaibas’ next attack.

The pressure kept mounting. Jelaca scored his fourth in a row to equalise again, and Aleksa Petrovski soon followed to give Zaibas a 12-11 lead – their first advantage in a long spell.

Sliema, however, still had Ivovic, who unleashed another powerful long-range effort to bring the sides level once more just after his team had returned to full strength.

Zaibas then earned a six-on-five but failed to convert. With 52 seconds remaining, though, Jelaca produced another decisive moment, firing in a powerful shot from the perimeter for his seventh goal of the evening.

Sliema still had one last response, as Ivovic delivered again with a trademark 6m cannonball, scoring his sixth goal to level the match and send the decision to penalties.

In the shootout, however, Zaibas held their nerve. The Lithuanians converted all of their attempts, while Jake Cachia hit the post in the third round – the only miss of the series, and the one that ultimately decided the outcome.

Final Eight – Semifinals

Galatasaray (TUR) 20-9 Enka Sport Club (TUR)

The other semifinal between the two Istanbul teams did not deliver the same level of excitement, as Galatasaray outclassed ENKA, scoring five goals in all four quarters to cruise to a convincing victory.

ENKA made the brighter start and took a 1-2 lead, but Galatasaray quickly seized control with a 4-0 run in the opening period.

The hosts continued to extend their advantage in the second quarter, and Efe Naipoglu’s buzzer-beater gave Galatasaray a 10-6 lead at half-time.

Two quick goals in the third period, scored within just 16 seconds, effectively ended ENKA’s resistance.

Galatasaray kept building their advantage and moved seven goals clear as their opponents’ defence struggled to keep up.

ENKA were also missing their first-choice goalkeeper, former Hungarian international and Olympian Mark Banyai, who was unable to take part in the event due to personal reasons.

By the fourth quarter ENKA were clearly fading, while Galatasaray continued to add to their tally, turning the contest into a rout as they moved within one step of claiming the trophy for the second time after 2024.

5th-6th classification final

AVK Branik Maribor (SLO) 9-24 San Giljan ASC (MLT)

San Giljan, who had been considered one of the favourites before the tournament, at least found some consolation in this match after suffering bitter one-goal defeats in the group stage to Galatasaray and Sliema, which prevented them from reaching the semifinals.

They made a sluggish start in the 5th/6th final, as the Slovenians took an early 4-2 lead, but the Maltese soon shifted gears and found their rhythm.

San Giljan scored four consecutive goals in the final three minutes of the opening period and added another four in the first five minutes of the second, and that 0-8 run put the game firmly under their control.

Although Branik managed to pull two back later, San Giljan opened the third period with another 0-4 run, and by the end of the quarter the Maltese side held a commanding 7-17 lead.

National team player Ben Plumpton led the scoring with six goals, while US star Marko Vavic added five. Between them they scored more than the entire Slovenian team, as San Giljan finished with 24 goals.

Even so, they may have left Istanbul feeling slightly disappointed.

7th-8th classification final

Vitoria Sport Clube (POR) 18-9 Heybeliada ASC (TUR)

Vitoria downed Heybeliada with a powerful performance, as gradually dismantled the Turkish side. The first period was relatively balanced but, after a 3-3 scoreline, the Portuguese team pulled ahead and established a two-goal lead at 6-4 by the end of the quarter.

They extended the gap in the second with some excellent defending, shutting out their opponents for more than seven minutes while producing a 3-0 run to move 9-4 ahead.

Umut Sonay pulled one back 40 seconds before the middle break, and although the Turks pushed hard in the third in an effort to close the gap, they were never able to reduce the deficit to fewer than three goals.

Luis Moreira’s late six-on-five goal, 14 seconds from time, restored the four-goal margin at 12-8.

The fourth period began with a quick exchange of goals, but the Turks continued to fade. Vitoria finished strongly with a powerful 5-0 blast, as Rui Ramos scored his seventh goal of the match to seal seventh place for his side.

For Challenger Cup Men results/schedule and tables, click here

Watch all the Challenger Cup Men action live on European Aquatics TV

Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

The post Challenger Cup Men: Zaibas and Galatasaray reach first European club final of season first appeared on European Aquatics®.