Under-21 side makes a comeback for a 2-2 draw with Cyprus

The Malta Under-21 side came back from two goals down to hold Cyprus in a 2-2 draw in a friendly match at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

This was the first outing for the team led by Gilbert Agius after the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign ended in June and preparations are underway for the next qualifying campaign. The squad therefore included several new faces.

The visitors took an early two goal lead through Nicolas Koutsakos on the 7th minute and the same player doubled the score four minutes later.

These two goals shocked the locals but three minutes from the end of the first half, Mattia Veselji reduced the gap with a shot from inside the area following a swift counter-attack.

Malta equalised sixteen minutes in the second half through Andrea Zammit whose shot from inside the area beat goalkeeper Kyriakou.

The team will be iin action once again on Monday in a friendly match with Montenegro.

Photo courtesy of Malta FA

MALTA Matthias Debono, Zean Leonardi, Kurt Briffa, Mattia Veselji (Jamie Carbone 87), Andrea Zammit (Isaac Ebejer 78), Aleandro Garzia, Karl Mohnani, Isaac Cutajar (Nikolai Micallef 46), Dale Mifsud (7-Jake Engerer 60), Nathan Agius (Matthew Debattista 46), Kurt Bondin.

ĊYPRUS Stefanos Kittos (Michalis Kyriakou 46), Fotis Kotsonis, Stavros Gavriel (Evangelos Andreou 62), Ilias Kostis, Georgios Okkis (Giorgos Pavlides 62), Giannis Satsias (Dimitris Mavroudis 62), Antonio Foti (Angelos Zefki 62), Nicolas Koutsakos (Marko Jovanovic 78), Filippos Eftychides (Giorgios Pontikou 62), Irodotos Christodolou (Nikolas Hadjimitsis 78), Evagoras Antoniou (Giorgos Vasiliou 78).

Referee: Philip Farrugia