Malta started their UEFA U15 Development Tournament campaign with a win over San Marino on Tuesday, producing a fine attacking display while also avoiding a late scare, emerging as winners thanks to penalties.
Malta started on the front foot, attacking the San Marino backline. The first opportunity came in the fourth minute, when a cross was not cleared well by the San Marino defence, before the ball fell to Andvic Inguanez, who hit a powerful left-footed strike, yet it was just about saved by Jacopo Morri.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
The home side continued to pile the pressure on San Marino, linking up very well in midfield.
Malta eventually opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, after some neat play down the right wing resulted in Jesmar Spiteri receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area, before stroking it into the net with a cool and calm finish.
Malta doubled their lead almost instantly, as Giuseppe Melarosa, who was starting to find space in midfield, picked out a perfect pass to Enzo De Freitas Romao, who made no mistake when faced with the goalkeeper, tucking it into the net.
The match slowed down for the remaining minutes of the half, and Malta administered their advantage to go into the break ahead.
The start of the second-half was much more even, and in the 57th minute, San Marino were awarded a free-kick from long range. Enea De Biagi struck a curling strike, which was excellently saved by Zack Pule’.
Malta were still looking sharp on the ball, and in the 61st minute they came very close to making it 3-0. Elijah Olorundare curled a beautiful cross from the right wing, which found Melarosa, yet his volley was smartly saved by Morri.
Malta continued to control the match, and in the 82nd minute they could have extended their lead, as a couple of quick passes opened up the San Marino backline, yet Declan Roosevelt Zammit’s finish was well saved. Just a couple of minutes later, Malta struck the woodwork, as a left-footed shot from Nikolai Vella Giordimaina left Morri stranded, but could not nestle into the net. This was followed by another shot that hit the bar in the 87th minute, this time from Yan Calleja, only marginally not going in.
However, San Marino halved the deficit in the closing stages, as an excellent pass from Nathan Cola found Samuel Matteir, who stroke it into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
In stoppage time, San Marino completed the comeback, and after a brilliant pass, Mattei was through on goal, striking a great shot to make it 2-2 and send the game to penalties.
Malta came out on top on penalties, winning the shootout 5-4, with Pule’ saving the decisive penalty against Enea De Biagi to earn the home side a deserved win.
Malta
1 Zack Pule’ (GK), 2 Jake Joseph Camilleri (16 Edward Pace, 67’), 3 Andvic Inguanez (13 Kaisaac Vella Brincat, 67’), 4 Nikolai Vella Giordimaina, 5 Zven Cutajar (C), 6 Isaac Montebello (14 Yan Calleja, 75’), 7 Elijah Olorundare (17 Nathan Azzopardi, 61’), 8 Jesmar Spiteri (18 Luke Mifsud, 61’), 9 Andreas Mangion (20 Declan Roosevelt Zammit, 67’), 10 Giuseppe Melarosa (15 Jan Grech, 75’), 11 Enzo De Freitas Romao (19 Lee Bonanno, 75’)
Coach: Jonathan Holland
San Marino
1 Jacopo Morri (GK), 3 Luca Donci (8 Nicolas Francioni, 57’), 19 Taddei Niccolo’ (16 Manuel Ricci, 46’), 6 Nathan Cola, 14 Samuel Mattei, 10 Edoardo Gobbi (17 Riccardo Rosati, 71’), 2 David Berardinelli (5 Caua Celli, 75’), 20 Simone Ugolini (15 Alessandro Pignatiello, 46’), 18 Cristian Selva (11 Pietro Grandoni, 46’), 13 Giacomo Gualandi (C) (7 Enea De Biagi, 57’), 9 Lorenzo Frisoni (4 Federico Castelli, 46’)
Coach: Vandi Dario Ettore