Heavy defeat for Under-17s to Turkey

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 Kılıçsoy put Turkey ahead on the 15th minute and Emirhan Acar doubled the score on the 32nd. Five minutes later, Arda Güler made it 3-0.

Arda Güler increased the lead on the 57th and although ten minutes later, an own goal by Hasan Berat Kayalı reduced the gap for Malta, goals by Semih Kılıçsoy 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 Bülbül, Muhammet Eren Arıkan, Efe Arda Koyuncu (64′ Arda Kırgıl), Hasan Berat Kayalı, Furkan Yöntem (46′ Kenan Yıldız), Emirhan Acar, Emir Bars (64′ Emirhan Acar), Semih Kılıçsoy (90+1′ Selim Can Sönmez), Arda Güler, Batuhan Çelik (64′ Can Yılmaz 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)