Under-19 Tournament: Poland hit five past Malta

Substitute Jan Zuberek was the hero for Poland as he notched a hat-trick in their Under-19 national team’s win over Malta at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

The locals held the visitors at bay during the first half but on the restart, Poland scored two goals and although Malta pulled one back, Zuburek scored three to extend the lead to a much more comfortable one.

Photo courtesy of www.stephengatt.com / Malta FA

Poland took the lead five minutes in the second half when off a Milosz Brzozowski corner, Filip Koperski headed home past goalkeeper Luca Camilleri. Six minutes later, a Kacper Skrobanski effort from outside the area beat the Maltese custodian to double the score with the ball ending in the bottom left corner. Malta reduced the gap on the 61st minute courtesy of Zak Barbara who was served on the edge of the area and pulled to a more central position before beating goalkeeper Kikolski.

However Poland went 3-1 ahead on the 63rd with a diagonal shot from the left by Jan Zubarek. Two minutes later, Zubarek added another with an angled shot from the right. Six minutes from time, Poland scored their fifth, once again courtesy of Jan Zubarek whose low shot from the left ended at the back of the net.

Yesterday evening, also at the National Stadium, Germany and Portugal shared the spoils in an entertaining two all draw. Miguel Fale converted a penalty in the third minute, with Muhammad Damar equalising for the Germans five minutes after the break. Joao Neves put the Portuguese 2-1 up on 65 minutes but deep into stoppage time, Leandro Morgalla equalised, which means the Germans won this mini tournament on goal average.

MALTA Luca Camilleri, Braden Flannery, Matthias Ellul, Jake Micallef (Lucas Scicluna 57), Jake Vassallo, Benjamin Hili (Matteo Gambin 57), Andrew Borg, Alexander Spiteri (Jake Grech 81), Alfie Bridgman, Zak Barbara (Brooklyn Borg 70), Kian Leonardi (Isaiah Micallef 70).

POLAND Maciej Kikolski, Wiktor Matyjewicz, Kacper Skrobanski, Milosz Brzozowski, Tomasso Guercio, Filip Koperski, Filip Kocaba (Dominik Bienek 30), Kacper Urbanski (Ivo Kaczmarski 83), Tomasz Plenko, Szczepan Mucha (Antoni Kozubal 67), Mateusz Kowalski (Jan Zuberek 46)
Coach: Marek Kasprzyk

Referee: Nenad Minakovic SRB

Meanwhile Germany won the tournament following a 2-2 draw with Portugal in another match on Tuesday.

Miguel Fale put Portugal ahead on the 3rd minute but five minutes in the second half, Muhammed Damar converted a penalty for Germany. Portugal regained the lead through Joao Neves put Portugal back on the 65th but after Portugal had Goncalo Esteves sent off road three minutes from time, two minutes in added time, Lukas Ullrich notched the equaliser.