Challenger Cup Men: Galatasaray crowned champions in Istanbul after downing Zaibas in thrilling final

Galatasaray SK were celebrating in front of their passionate fans in Istanbul on Sunday after beating EVK Zaibas in the men’s Challenger Cup final. It was a close and entertaining contest, but the Turks were more clinical in the latter stages, which ultimately secured them the trophy they also lifted in 2024. For the Lithuanians, it was an agonising defeat, as they had been eager to erase the painful memories of their narrow loss to Donk in last year’s final. Earlier, Sliema ASC Nexawin claimed the bronze after edging a 32-goal thriller against Enka Sport Club.

2025/26 Challenger Cup Men
Final Eight – Finals
(Istanbul, Türkiye)
Sunday 15 March

Gold medal game

EVK Zaibas (LIT) 11-13 Galatasaray SK (TUR)

Bronze medal game

Sliema ASC Nexawin (MLT) 17-15 Enka Sport Club (TUR)

9th-12th classification
(Mouscron, Belgium)

Carouge Natation (SUI) 22-9 VK Banja Luka (BIH)
RD Mouscronnois (BEL) 16-11 Cetus Espoo (FIN)

Standings: 9th. Mouscronnois 9pts, 10th. Carouge Natation 6pts, 11th. Cetus Espoo 3pts, 12th. Banja Luka 0pts

Gold medal game

EVK Zaibas (LIT) 11-13 Galatasaray SK (TUR)

Galatasaray managed to lift the trophy for the second time after 2024 thanks to some excellent defending and by winning almost all of the clutch moments late in the game.

Victory for the Turks meant Zaibas had to settle for the silver medal once more after their heartbreak in the final last year.

The Lithuanians got off to a great start, but after scoring six goals in the first eight minutes, they could add only five in the remaining three periods as they missed several key six-on-fives in the second half.

Zaibas enjoyed a great spell right away in the first period when they staged a 3-0 rush after 2-2, including a double from their Croatian veteran Marko Jelaca, in a span of 35 seconds.

However, Galatasaray responded well, producing three consecutive goals from as many possessions to level the score 97 seconds later.

Still, Marin Vrdoljak had the last laugh as his blistering shot restored the lead for Zaibas 18 seconds from the first break.

Ele Kuloglu’s fine action goal levelled it again early in the second period, but Aurimas Jonkus was also on target for 7-6.

With 13 goals in nine minutes, the game looked set to become a scoring feast, but suddenly the goals dried up as the defences tightened at both ends.

After a long stretch, both teams managed to kill a man-down. Midway through the period, however, Vrdoljak converted after a time-out to double Zaibas’ advantage.

Ali Erdag pulled one back 40 seconds later, then the next two minutes were filled with action again, though the goalkeepers also did well.

With 1:14 to go, Fatih Acar finally found a gap in the wall to equalise once more.

After more excellent defending from the hosts, Selcuk Caner finished off a dying man-up seven seconds from time to swing the lead to Galatasaray by half-time (8-9).

The long break did Zaibas good as they could reset after the Turks’ 0-3 run. Though they missed another man-up early in the third period, Jelaca converted the next opportunity to make it 9-9. The following three minutes were devoted to a real battle.

As time went by, scoring first after these tight spells carried more and more weight. Players went all in, sometimes too far as turnover fouls had to be called.

Tension also had an impact as even the best shooters struck the post on a couple of occasions.

After one missed opportunity apiece, the Turks forced another and Dejan Vujovic managed to send it home with 3:20 on the clock for 9-10.

The Lithuanians were unable to replicate that in their second six-on-five as Ekin Erkaplan came up with a couple of fine saves.

Then, as the clock was ticking down, Orhan Alpman stunned the Lithuanian defence with a brilliant action shot 14 seconds from time, sending the Turks into the final period with a 9-11 lead in hand.

Though they missed a man-up early in the fourth, Stefan Gak found some space in their next attack and that was enough for the Serb to make it 9-12.

With 4:50 to go, Aleksa Petrovski fired one in to cut the deficit to two goals (10-12) and that triggered the final grand battle.

Zaibas produced desperate attempts but kept missing their six-on-five chances.

They did gain some strength from good defending, killing a series of man-down situations, while goalkeeper Aleksandro Kralj also kept them alive with a save in a one-on-one counter.

Still, the clock was ticking down and the pressure on Zaibas was growing by the minute, as another strike from the Turks would have effectively ended the contest.

Indeed, it was Galata who struck next. A patient build-up found Gak on the left wing and he managed to push the ball through the goalkeeper’s hands to make it 10-13 with just 1:38 remaining.

That proved decisive. Jelaca’s fourth goal was merely further proof that age is just a number – the 43-year-old Croat was tremendous throughout the tournament. Still, he could not quite push Zaibas to the very top.

The Lithuanians finished runners-up, just like last year, while Galata could start their wild celebrations in front of a capacity crowd.

Bronze medal game

Sliema ASC Nexawin (MLT) 17-15 Enka Sport Club (TUR)

Sliema gained some consolation after their bitter shootout defeat to Zaibas in the semi-finals as they upended ENKA to claim the bronze medal in an action-packed game featuring 32 goals.

The opening eight minutes already produced 10 goals. The Turks had the better start as they led 4-6 with three straight goals in less than two minutes before the first break.

Greek ace Christodoulos Kolomvos converted a man-up to make it 4-7 early in the second period, but Aleksandar Ivovic produced another fine piece from his collection of rockets from 6 metres.

After a killed man-down, Sam Engerer brought the Maltese even closer. In 37 seconds it was level, as Jake Cachia finished off a counter, but Berk Alkan halted Sliema’s run with a fine centre shot for 7-8.

The Maltese then repeated a similar sequence. Italy’s world champion Niccolo Gitto scored from action, this was followed by a denied man-down, and Jayden Cassar netted the ensuing counter in 26 seconds to turn the score around at 9-8.

ENKA missed their third man-up in a row and although they survived the next two man-downs, they could not kill the third as Dino Zammit sent the ball home for 10-8 with 0:35 on the clock.

Still, the Turks managed to pull one back when Yusa Duzenli buried a penalty 14 seconds before half-time.

ENKA were quick to force another penalty from a man-up early in the third period, and Duzenli made no mistake to equalise at 10-10.

However, just 27 seconds later he exited the game with his third foul – having contributed four goals. Even though the Turks killed the ensuing man-down, a minute later another penalty was called and Liam Galea converted it.

Just 40 seconds later, Galea added another from action. Then ENKA not only missed a man-up after a time-out, but the ensuing counter ended in a penalty, which Ivovic buried. It was the third 3-0 rush by the Maltese and it began to hurt their rivals.

The Turks pulled one back, but Cachia and Gitto struck again in 41 seconds and Sliema moved four goals clear for the first time.

Not for long, though, as Arda Yener’s buzzer-beater gave ENKA some hope, though they were still trailing 15-12.

Those hopes strengthened early in the final period as ENKA not only scored back-to-back six-on-five goals, but those exclusions also forced Ivovic and Gitto out of the game with three fouls.

With both stars gone, the Turks’ chances suddenly looked bright at 15-14. They even had a man-up opportunity to level the score but missed it, and that proved costly as Julian Chircop responded with an action goal for 16-14.

That strike killed ENKA’s momentum. They went on to miss two more six-on-five chances, while the Maltese remained composed and Galea effectively ended the contest with a fine man-up finish with 1:57 on the clock.

Alkan’s late goal from a man-up did little to spoil Sliema’s celebrations as they were more than happy to secure the bronze medal.

9th-12th classification tournament
(Mouscron, Belgium)

Saturday 14 March

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)

Sunday 15 March

Carouge Natation (SUI) 22-9 VK Banja Luka (BIH)
RD Mouscronnois (BEL) 16-11 Cetus Espoo (FIN)

Standings: 9th. Mouscronnois 9pts, 10th. Carouge Natation 6pts, 11th. Cetus Espoo 3pts, 12th. Banja Luka 0pts

Hosts RD Mouscronnois won the 9th-12th classification tournament with their victory against Carouge Natation – in a hard-fought battle on Saturday – proving decisive.

The Belgians scored three goals in a row to move 8-5 ahead and force the Swiss into a chasing game.

Carouge managed to climb back to within one (9-8), 18 seconds before the last break, leaving the decision to the fourth period.

The final quarter saw a tremendous fight, with no goals for five and a half minutes. Then Gilles Sory struck first to make it 10-8. The Swiss converted a six-on-five after a time-out through Jonathan Melet with 1:38 remaining, but they were unable to score the equaliser, so Mouscronnois ultimately went on to secure 9th place.

Both teams beat Cetus Espoo and Banja Luka with ease over the weekend, while the Finns thrashed the Bosnians 31-12 to claim 11th position.

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

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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