Malta conceded six goals in the second half as they suffered a 7-0 defeat to Finland in another match from Group 2 of the UEFA Futsal EURO Main Round at the Energia Arena in Vantaa on Thursday.

Malta came out strong and after five minutes, it was Michael Borg who fired a shot from the distance that goalkeeper Savolainen saved well for a corner. In the eighth minute, it was Maicon for Malta whose shot went wide. 

However, Finland went ahead when it was Jukka Kytola who crossed well to Vesa Lilja who promptly shot home.

On 11 minutes, it was the young Nathan Cope who had his shot well saved by the Finnish keeper Kangas.

The Finns increased the pressure and Jukka Kytola went close twice – first with a shot ending wide and another neutralised by goalkeeper Clint Mifsud.

12 seconds before the end of the first half, it was Nathan Cope who cleared off the goalpost Lintula Lassi’s shot.

The Finns came out very aggressive in the second half and scored the second goal after just 30 seconds through Liro Vanha after a pass from Eric Sylla.

Malta reacted with a Marwan Telisi close-range effort which was saved by Kangas and then Luke Gatt had a shot ending just wide on 25 minutes.

However, Finland made it 3-0 after half an hour as Henri Alamikotervo beat Mifsud with a powerful shot.

The Maltese seemed confused and conceded the fourth goal after Lassi Lintula, served by Vanha, hit home.

A minute later, it was Aleksi Pirttijoki who, after a quick counter-attack, beat Mifsud for the fifth time with a low shot.

As Malta came out with a flying keeper, it was goalkeeper Juha Saavolainen who took advantage of the empty net and with a shot from the distance scored the sixth goal.

In the last minute, it was Eric Sylla who sealed the final victory after a cross from Vanha.

Malta will play its last match this Wednesday against Belarus, (kick-off 7pm) at the University Pavilion in Tal-Qroqq.

Finland: Savolainen (GK), Sylla, T. Intala,13 Korpela, 19 Vanha, Kangas (GK), Alamikkotervo, J. Kytölä (C), Paappanen, Lintula, Vuohtoniemi, Pirttijoki, Lilja, Pulkkinen.

Malta: Mifsud (GK), C. Alves, Maikinho, Telisi, Mangion, Adami (GK), M. Borg, Briscoe Pace, G. Sammut, Zammit (C), Gatt, Cope, Schembri, Louati.

Referee 1 – Besar Beqiri
Referee 2 – Besart Ismajli
Referee 3 – Florentina Kallaba
Time-Keeper – Janne Maataanen