Malta won their second game of the UEFA Boys U16 Development Tournament after producing an excellent display to beat Gibraltar 3-0 on Wednesday 26th February.
The match started at a very high intensity, with both teams looking to make a mark in the opening stages.
Malta’s first attempt on goal came in the sixth minute, when Jamie Nwoko freed himself from his marker on the left-hand side of the penalty area, before hitting a strike that was saved by goalkeeper Julian Guillem.
Malta opened the scoring in the 10th minute, when a loose ball in the penalty area fell to Nathan Clinton, who made no mistake from close range, finding the net with a cool finish.
The home side continued to press, and they added to the scoring in the 19th minute, as a perfect cross from Lydon Calleja Attard was met by Caden Tanti, who guided the ball into the net with a great finish.
Malta remained the stronger of the two sides over the half, having the better share of the possession and denying Gibraltar any space to go forward.
Malta had an opportunity to go three goals up in the 36th minute, when a through pass found Jamie Nwoko who was through on goal, yet the Gibraltar defence recovered in time to block his shot.
Gibraltar had a shot on goal right at the end of the half, when Liam Payas found space on the edge of the Maltese penalty area, yet his shot was tame and easily saved by Jaiel Calleja, keeping the score 2-0 going into the break.
Gibraltar had the first chance of the second-half, when a free-kick was swung into the penalty area, and was met by Niall Garratt, yet his header was brilliantly saved by Calleja, who turned it away for a corner.
In the 51st minute, Malta came very close to getting a third, as Denzel Attard was fed through down the left-hand side, and with an effort from a long way out, he hit the bar.
The home side finally got their third goal in the 60th minute, as Nwoko was sent through on goal in the 61st minute, leaving him facing the goalkeeper. The striker made no mistake, tucking it past Guillem to make it 3-0.
The game’s pace slowed down in the second-half with a number of changes being made by both teams. Despite that, Malta were still comfortable, keeping hold of possession well.
In the closing stages, Malta started to threaten again, and Mattias Gatt Dimech Debono had a late opportunity to make it four, skipping past a couple of defenders, yet his effort went just wide of the goal.
Malta’s final game of the tournament will be against the Faroe Islands on Saturday 1st March, with kick-off at 13:30hrs.
Malta
12 Jaiel Calleja (GK), 13 Jayden Tabone, 3 Lydon Calleja Attard (15 Giorgio Cristauro 63’), 4 Andre’ Zammit, 5 Ryan Debono (C) (8 Mattiaz Ancilleri 81’), 2 Matthew Mizzi (6 Zachary Hartvig 81’), 7 Rico Cauchi (14 Densel Grech 46’), 16 Julian Scicluna (18 Mattias Gatt Dimech Debono 58’), 9 Jamie Nwoko (11 Justin Pena Serna 63’), 10 Caden Tanti (17 Kaylon Zammit 46’), 19 Nathan Clinton (20 Denzel Attard 46’)
Coach: Piero Panzanaro
Gibraltar
13 Julian Guillem (GK), 4 Niall Garratt (6 Aaron Sanchez Soiza 79’), 12 Aaron Hollins Key, 17 Aymane Haddad, 15 Thomas Phillips (2 Stefan Soleci 59’), 3 Julian Pecino (7 Lucas Llambias 46’), 14 Azaliah Omara (5 Julian Lima 72’), 8 Islam Dahrouch (11 Jonathan Rowbottom 46’), 19 Aiden Barbara (10 Nicholas Poggio 46’), 16 Liam Payas, 9 Ilies Achhoud Amziane (18 Enzo Bahadur Bonet 59’)
