Back-to-back wins for Under-17 side against Georgia

The Malta Under-17 national team registered two wins over Georgia in two friendly matches at the Centenary Stadium.

In the first match on Sunday, Malta won 3-1.

Coach Ivan Woods opted to give Mosta goalkeeper Luca Camilleri his full debut between the sticks. In the last part of the match, also Hamrun Spartans player Trezeguet Zammit made his debut for the Malta Under-17s, coming on as a late substitute. 

The hosts took an early fourth minute late when Sean Gatt headed the ball home past goalkeeper Soso Kopaliani. 

Georgia equalised on the 66th thanks to Luka Parkadze who beat Camilleri with a a low shot. However, Malta regained the lead on the 78th when Gatt served the unmarked Lucas Caruana who drilled the ball in the back of the net. Five minutes later, substitute Ensell Attard scored the third goal with a shot from the edge of the area. 

MALTA Luca Camilleri, Kaiden Fenech (Isaiah Chukunyere 91), Kian Vella, Sven Xerri, Iven Farrugia, Josiah Mallia, Matthias Fenech (Timothy Cachia 62), Lucas Caruana, Sean Gatt, Russell Caruana (Trezeguet Zammit 91), Zak Barbara (Ensell Attard 73)

GEORGIA Soso Kopaliani, Daviti Gogichaishvili (Niko Tsetskhladze 46), Dachi Lordkipanidze, Tengo Alibegashvili (Nikoloz Ninidze 46), Saba Kharchilava, Aleksandre Narimanidze, Giorgi Robakidze, Aleko Basiladze (Lasha Gadilia 46), Luka Parkadze,  Demetre Tskikolia, Giorgi Tabatadze 

Referee: Alex Johnson (Malta)

On Tuesday, Malta came from behind to win 2-1.

Woods handed Floriana’s Reece Cutajar his official international debut in goal while Isaiah Chukunyere, Jayden Ohaka, Timothy Cachia and Ensell Attard were preferred to Kaiden Fenech, Russell Caruana, Matthias Fenech and Josiah Mallia. Late in the match, substitute Raul Formosa, also of Floriana, made his first appearance in the Malta Under-17 team as well.

Georgia was awarded a penalty on the 38th after Zak Barbara brought Givi Kachidze down inside the area and Nikoloz Ninidze converted. 

The hosts were also awarded a penalty on the 70th when Aleksandre Narimanidze floored Barbara inside the area with Lucas Caruana making no mistake from the penalty spot.

Five minutes from time, Lucas Caruana scored with a long-distance shot to make it 2-1.

MALTA Reece Cutajar, Isaiah Chukunyere (Kaydon Catania 55), Kian Vella (Kaiden Fenech 73), Sven Xerri, Ivin Farrugia, Jayden Ohaka (Kelvin Baldacchino 86), Timothy Cachia (Raul Formosa 86), Lucas Caruana, Sean Gatt, Ensell Attard, Zak Barbara (Russell Caruana 73)

GEORGIA Rezi Kurtanidze, Saba Kharchilava, Aleksandre Narimanidze, Giorgi Robakidze, Tengo Gobesha, Givi Khachidze (Lasha Gadilia 46), Giorgi Partsvania (Luka Parkadze 46), Aleksandre Chikhadze (Aleko Basiladze 84), Giorgi Magradze (Giorgi Tabatadze 46), Nikoloz Ninidze (Niko Tsetskhladze 66), Dachi Lordkipanidze. 

Referee: Darryl Agius (Malta)