An unfortunate own goal along with some defensive errors paved the way for Scotland as they defeated Malta 5-0 in another match from the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifiers on Tuesdfay.
Malta coach Ivan Woods changed his team on four places when compared to the starting line-up against Kazakhstan. Between the sticks, Naxxar Lions goalkeeper Matthias Debono was preferred instead of Hugo Sacco of Hibernians. In defence there were two new faces as Sven Xerri and Zean Leonardi were roped in, while Andrea Zammit, used as a substitute last Thursday, captained the side. Kurt Bondin, sent-off against Kazakhstan, Owen Spiteri (also suspended) and the injured Aleandro Garzia were missing for Malta. By entering as second half substitutes, Isaiah Chukunyere and James Vella made their debut for the Malta U21 side.
Scotland were on velvet after barely two minutes when Matthew Ellul misjudged an Ewan Wilson from the left flank, kicking the ball behind Debono for a classic own goal. In the Malta attack that followed, Ipswich Town goalkeeper Cieran Slicker had to make a foul far out of the box, denying Mattia Veselji, an obstruction which was judged by the Latvian referee to be a caution only.
The visitors doubled on nine minutes when, from a Lennon Miller free-kick, the Malta rear-guard failed to clear the danger with Dane Murray beating Ellul in the air. On 17 minutes, Scotland added goal number three, punishing a defensive mistake by Malta with Dylan Scicluna erroneously passing into the feet of Kieran Bowie on the edge of the box with Josh Mulligan shooting low into the empty net.
On 26 minutes, Malta should have put one back with a free chance for Basil Tuma after some good work by Zammit on the right side of the box but the close-range goal attempt of the Reading based striker incredibly failed to find the net. On the half hour mark, Malta could have been awarded a penalty when Tuma was held by Murray in the box but the referee saw nothing wrong after Tuma resumed his way towards the goal. On 40 minutes, Slicker did well to parade a close-range attempt by Tuma which easily could have been another goal by the home-side.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Scotland scored their fourth of the evening when substitute Daniel Kelly’s cross from the left flank was met by the unmarked Lennon Miller who headed past Debono at the second post. In the 66th minute, Tuma was released but Jeremiah Mullen denied the Malta forward in what was certainly not a tackle on the ball with Tuma tumbling down. The referee, again, waved to play on. On 70 minutes, the hosts were unlucky when Jake Micallef’s attempt hit the crossbar from a corner kick, with the ball bouncing back into the pitch and Scicluna concluding wide.
With Malta failing to score a consolation goal, Scotland added their fifth on 82 minutes, through Lewis Neilson, who blasted home at the second post beating his direct marker with ease.
The Maltese Under-21 team will end their commitments next month with two tough away games versus Hungary (10th October) and five days later against Spain. Scotland remain within a chance to qualify in this group as they are equal on points with Belgium on 16 points, six points behind leaders Spain who just need a point from their last two games to qualify for the final tournament.
Photos courtesy of Timmy Cutugno
Malta
Matthias Debono, Zean Leonardi (Matteo Gambin 88), Sven Xerri, Matthew Ellul (James Vella 75), Jake Micallef, Nikolai Micallef (Karl Mohnani 75), Andrew Borg, Dylan Scicluna, Andrea Zammit, Mattia Veselji (Isaiah Chukunyere 58), Basil Tuma (Daniel Letherby 75)
Scotland
Cieran Slicker, Lewis Neilson, Dane Murray (David Watson 46), Jeremiah Mullen, Max Johnston, Ewan Wilson, Lennon Miller, Lyall Cameron (Miller Thomson 85), Josh Mulligan (Calvin Ramsay 75), Kieron Bowie (Daniel Kelly 36), Dire Mebude (Bobby Wales 75)
Referee Edgars Malcevs (Latvia)