The U19 sides of Malta and Bulgaria shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw in an international friendly match at the MFA Training Grounds on Saturday.
The game started with Bulgaria having most of the ball, controlling the ball and shifting the ball from side to side, while Malta were pinned back. Malta slowly got into the game, yet the first chance of the game came from a Bulgaria free-kick in the 15th minute, when Adrian Raychev saw his effort go narrowly wide.
Malta started to get more confident in their play towards the 30-minute mark, having more possession in midfield and also started to be more adventurous down the wings, yet still failed to create a chance on goal.
There were a couple of half chances, but the score remained goalless at the break.
The second half started slowly, with both sides settling for passing the ball round the back. The first opening for Malta in the second half came from Nicholas Agius, who carved his way through the defence, yet saw his effort blocked by the Bulgarian defence.
Malta got another opportunity on the break later in the half, yet Thomas Melillo’s effort was tame and Kehayov Atanas gather the ball easily. Bulgaria’s first attempt after the break came after a well-worked move off the left flank, yet Jake Scicluna saved comfortably.
The Bulgarian pressure intensified as the game continued, yet the Maltese defence held on, having to clear a couple of balls from off the line.
Malta continued to sustain pressure, yet Bulgaria could not find a goal, and the game finished 0-0.
The two sides will face off again in another friendly later today at the same venue.
Malta Jake Scicluna, Drew Sammut (Nicholas Briffa, 60′), Kydon Hili, Antiago De Flavia (Bradley Farrugia, 60′), Keane Scicluna, Aiden Zammit, Shelom Magri, Thomas Melillo, Kai Bartolo (Keyon Ewurum, 60′), Liam Delicata (Jerome Baldacchino, 82′), Nicholas Agius (C) (Felippe Bugeja, 60′).
Bulgaria Kehayov Atanas, Deyvid Mihalev, Stoyan Pergelov (Petrov Bozhidar, 80′), Viktor Lyubenov, Ivaylo Videv (C), Konstantin Dimitrov, Dzhaner Sadetinov, Adrian Raychev (Kaymakanov Vasil, 80′), Aleksandar Marinov, Vasil Kazaldshiev, Kubrat Onasci.
