The Malta national Under-19 team kicked off their UEFA Under-19 Championship qualification sequence against Northern Ireland, losing narrowly by a minimal 0-1 margin despite a late rally to save a point from this match.

Despite the difficult built-up with large defeats against Belarus last month, the boys coached by Vasco Regini rose to the occasion against a strong Northern Ireland team, who were pressured throughout the second half and welcomed the final whistle with open arms. 

Malta fielded three foreign based players in the starting line-up as there were goalkeeper James Sissons of Chesterfield, centre-forward Kai Bartolo of Wealdstone and Australia based left wing back Malik Amin of Marconi Stallions in Sydney. In the starting XI of Northern Ireland there were several players from top English youth academies like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Everton and Wolves, amongst other English based teams.  

Photo courtesy of Malta FA

Malta had their fair share of ball possession during the eventful first half but the guests proved to be most dangerous with several goal attempts. Sissons was called into action for the first time after four minutes, blocking a Braiden Graham attempt who beat his direct marker Nathan Joyce on the edge of the area. On 18 minutes, a corner by the visitors created havoc in the Maltese six-yard box but there was no-one at the right spot to conclude with the Maltese rear-guard clearing. Not much later, Ceadach O’Neill’s first-timer at the second post from a Keevan Hawthorne cross went wide.

Thomas Melillo signed for the first attempt on target for Malta on 22 minutes but his grounder from the edge of the area sailed inches wide. Three minutes later, Northern Ireland scored what proved to be the winner when Blaine McClure headed past Sissons from close-range from a cross by team captain Blaine McClure. On the half hour mark, Sissons did well to block a point-blank Paul McGovern attempt. On 33 minutes, Dejan Farrugia produced the first shot on target for Malta which forced Northern Irish goalkeeper Joshua Gracey into a routine save. In the minutes before the break, Sissons did well to block two attempts by Burnside and Graham, rounding off a busy first half.

The hosts started the second half strong with a clear desire to get an equaliser. This resulted into quite a balanced 45 minutes, without much goalmouth action however. On 76 minutes, Malta came close when substitute Andreas Vella did well on the left flank to shake off his direct marker, but hit the side-netting. Four minutes later, Melillo had the best chance of the game for Malta, being sent in the clear on the right side of the box but the Valletta midfielder blasted his attempt over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat. 

On 87 minutes, Jayden Vella unleashed a powerful grounder which was saved by Gracey. In stoppage time, Malta rallied towards the Northern Irish goal which created several hectic moments in the opponent’s box but without the desired result.

This afternoon, the Czech Republic beat ten-men Azerbaijan 6-1 in the same group. The winner and runners-up of each group will qualify directly to the elite round in spring 2026, with even the number 3 having an outside chance to qualify should they top the table of the numbers three from the other 12 groups.  

Malta
James Sissons, Malik Amin (Jayden Vella 78), Sheldon Borg, Nathan Joyce, Aiden Agius (Nathan Zerafa 89), Thomas Melillo, Jake Borg, Jack Camilleri (Andreas Vella 65), Dejan Farrugia (Liam Micallef 78), Emerson Piscopo (Lyon Abela 65), Kai Bartolo
Coach: Vasco Regini

Northern Ireland
Joshua Gracey, Keevan Hawthorne, Broghan Sewell (Kalum Thompson 65), James Simpson, Luke Matykiewicz, Blaine McClure, Callum Burnside George Feeney, Ceadach O’Neill, Braiden Graham, Paul McGovern (Jack Doherty 65)
Coach: Gareth McAuley

Referee
Sayat Karabayev (Kazakhstan)