The Malta Under-17 side led by coach Ivan Woods suffered a heavy 1-6 defeat to Turkey in the opening match from Group 1 of the UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifying round at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Wednesday.
Semih KΔ±lΔ±Γ§soy put Turkey ahead on the 15th minute and Emirhan Acar doubled the score on the 32nd. Five minutes later, Arda GΓΌler made it 3-0.
Arda GΓΌler increased the lead on the 57th and although ten minutes later, an own goal by Hasan Berat KayalΔ± reduced the gap for Malta, goals by Semih KΔ±lΔ±Γ§soy on the 78th and Emirhan Acar on the 92nd sealed the issue.
Malta plays the second game on Saturday against Denmark, kick-off at 16:00.
TURKEY Mert Furkan Bayram, Ali Turap BΓΌlbΓΌl, Muhammet Eren ArΔ±kan, Efe Arda Koyuncu (64′ Arda KΔ±rgΔ±l), Hasan Berat KayalΔ±, Furkan YΓΆntem (46′ Kenan YΔ±ldΔ±z), Emirhan Acar, Emir Bars (64′ Emirhan Acar), Semih KΔ±lΔ±Γ§soy (90+1′ Selim Can SΓΆnmez), Arda GΓΌler, Batuhan Γelik (64′ Can YΔ±lmaz Uzun).
MALTA Dominic Vella, Sven Xerri, Ivin Farrugia (80′ Andrew Apap Bologna), Jayden Ekenna Ohaka (46′ Myron Micallef), Kian Vella (80′ Josiah Mallia), Lucas Caruana, Kaiden Fenech (68′ Timothy Cachia), Ensell Attard, Russell Caruana (46′ Kian Leonardi), Isaiah Ndubisi Junior Chukunyere, Zak Barbara.
Referee: Robertas Valikonis (LTU)
