The Malta Under-19 national team went close to upset Czechia In a match from the UEFA Under-19 Championship but had to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

Like against Northern Ireland last Wednesday, the Maltese rose to the occasion against the strong Czechs, who beat Azerbaijan 6-1 in their opener and who also dominated this encounter but Malta were taking their chances well, stretching their more quoted opponents to the limit. 

Photo courtesy of Malta FA

With the Czechs one nil up, Malta equalised thanks to a great Dejan Farrugia goal deep into the second half and in stoppage time, the Maltese even took the lead through a splendid Jake Borg free-kick. However, the Czechs scored the equaliser not much later in an exciting final minutes of the game. 

Compared with the first game versus Northern Ireland, coach Vasco Regini changed his starting line-up on four positions. George Grima, in defence, was preferred with Liam Micallef, Lyon Abela and Andreas Vella instead of Aidan Agius, Jake Borg, Jack Camilleri and Emerson Piscopo, the last three being used as second half substitutes. The Czechs started with Juventus-bound left winger Adam Sosna but initially left out Louis Buffon, who scored three goals against Azerbaijan last Thursday, with the Pisa striker entering the fray towards the end of the game. 

The Czechs came close to break the deadlock after just four minutes when Sosna was sent in the clear but his attempt went wide. On 14 minutes, James Sissons did well to block a close-range Jakub Rehak attempt and from the resultant corner, captain Stepan Beran rose high to head just over the crossbar. Three minutes later, the guests took the lead from a Lukas Dvoracek corner which was headed in by centre-back Jiri Micek. 

On 34 minutes, Malta were unlucky when Kai Bartolo manoeuvred himself into a shooting position in the box, kicking his grounder against the post. Not much later, an attempt by captain Sheldon Borg from another neat Malta attack was saved by Czech goalkeeper Daniel Basta.

Also after the break, the visitors kept the pressure on, controlling the game with Sissons interfering a number of times to avoid a second Czech Republic goal. On 54 minutes, Thomas Melillo send Andreas Vella through on the right side, serving Liam Micallef whose shot was blocked by Patrik Siegl. This was during a period that the Maltese were more adventurous and, three minutes later, it was Dejan Farrugia who brilliantly kicked Malta next to the Czechs with a top-corner strike from a cross by Lyon Abela.

The Czechs pushed hard to regain the lead but the next-best chance was for Malta on 74 minutes with the danger again coming from the right with Andreas Vella serving Bartolo in the box, laying off to Melillo who hit the top of the crossbar with an angled shot. 

The last 15 minutes plus stoppage time were mostly played on the Maltese half with Lukas Moudry blasting high at the second post on 79 minutes. Not much later, Josef Kolarik dribbled his way through the Maltese defence on the left flank but Sissons came to the rescue with a splendid block. On 85 minutes, Dvoracek concluded weak from an ideal angle with Sissons again involved in a great double save.  

Two minutes into stoppage time, substitute Jake Borg incredibly curled his direct free-kick from the left behind Basta to give Malta the lead. But, with the finish in-sight, just two minutes later, Micek headed the Czechs past Malta with a header from close-range to restore parity. 

A hard-earned point by the Maltese who got off-mark with their first point in this mini-tournament, which means a good result against Azerbaijan next Tuesday could mean a possible Elite Round berth for the Maltese youngsters, all to play for indeed.

Malta
James Sissons, Malik Amin, Sheldon Borg (Jake Borg 80), Nathan Joyce, George Grima, Thomas Melillo (Shaun Xiberras 90), Andreas Vella, Dejan Farrugia, Liam Micallef (Jack Camilleri 68), Lyon Abela (Emerson Piscopo 68), Kai Bartolo (Nathan Zerafa 80)
Coach: Vasco Regini

Czech Republic
Daniel Basta, Stepan Beran, Patrick Siegl (Simon Sloncik 72), Jiri Micek, Jakub Kolisek, Tomas Hellebrand, Marek Naskos (Tadeas Frydl 65), Adam Sosna (Josef Kolarik 65), Lukas Dvoracek, Daniel Svancara (Lukas Moudry 46), Jakub Rehak (Louis Buffon 77). 
Coach: Vaclav Jilek

Referee
Kyriakos Athanasiou (Cyprus)