Sweden proved to be too strong for the Maltese U17 team this afternoon, beating the locals 5-0 in a rather one-sided game. The guests were superior throughout, giving the hosts no chance. In the first half, Malta did try to venture forward and played some neat football in the built-up, limiting the damage. Despite showing excellent work-rate in the second half, Malta failed to create any opportunities with Sweden adding three more goals.
When compared to the England game last Thursday (0-4), coach Francesco Macri changed his starting line-up on four places as the Italian mentor roped in Kayden Zerafa, Zyas Vella Newell, Matteo Paolo Grech and goalkeeper Jayden Farrugia instead of Emerson Mejlak, Matteas Caruana, Gunner Elliott and Adam Newell, with Caruana being a late second half substitute.
Malta started well, forcing out a few corners in the first five minutes, a warning for the visitors not to take things lightly. However, on nine minutes, Sweden took the early lead they wanted through Milian Oberg, whose curled shot from just inside the area had the better of Farrugia. The Swedes doubled on 21 minutes when, from an Oberg free-kick, the Maltese defence failed to clear the ball with Benjamin Brandtlind blasting home from close-range.
Having a two-goal cushion, the match slowed down after these early goals, with Sweden threatening a few times more. Towards the end of the half, Malta produced a few good moves, with an Andreas Vella shot that went inches over the crossbar. In stoppage time, Malta came closest to an equaliser when, from a corner action, the ball ended up in front of Zyas Vella Newell in the six-yard box but his attempt was turned into a corner.
The guests continued to show their dominances after the break, giving the Maltese boys very little space use the counter-attack. In the first 15 minutes, both Filip Ohman and Brandtlind failed to find target with attempts from outside the box.
On 63 minutes, Farrugia performed a brilliant save on an Emil Sadarangani attempt, which the Mosta custodian turned into a corner. But there was nothing Farrugia could do on 72 minutes when Charlie Pavey rounded off another attack for the guests, a good goal after an excellent built-up. Five minutes later, Brandtlind scored his second and Sweden’s fourth, rounding off a wonderful individual action, with substitute Love Arrhov adding a fifth on 85 minutes.
In the early kick-off, England beat Latvia 4-0 with goals by Lucas Rawlings, Luca Williams-Barnet, Igor Tyjon and Harry Howell. That means that England is leading the group on equal points with Sweden but a better goal average. Both teams will meet on Wednesday afternoon (14h30) to decide the group with at 11 a.m, Malta will conclude the tournament with a match against Latvia.
