The Malta U19s did not manage to conclude the UEFA Championship on a positive note as the team led by coach Vasco Regini were defeated by Azerbaijan, who therefore leapfrogged the hosts into a final third position.
Malta did surge ahead just after the break, but the Azeri’s replied with two well-taken goals to record their only victory in this mini-tournament.
With the unexpected point gained against the Czech Republic, irrespective the result of the Northern Ireland against Czech Republic result, played simultaneously next door at the new National Football Centre, Malta needed a large victory to increase their chances of topping the ranking of third-ranked teams. A remote but not impossible task as only the number one of this classification progressing to the Elite Round next year spring.
There were two changes in the Malta starting line-up when compared with the game against the Czechs last Saturday morning as Jack Camilleri played in lieu of Thomas Melillo on midfield while up front, Nathan Zerafa replaced Kai Bartolo, both suspended for this match.
In the uneventful opening 45 minutes, play was rather balanced but with Azerbaijan created the better opportunities. In the third minute, Malta had a wake-up call when Shahismayil Jafarov had a near-free entrance towards goal but the attempt of the nippy striker went wide. On 19 minutes, Sheldon Borg headed against the crossbar but the referee blew the whistle for a foul, which proved to be one of the very few opportunities the home-side created in the first half.
In the 35th minute, James Sissons did well to parade a Shahin Ibrahimov shot from the edge of the area and not much later, the same Sissons saved a long-distance attempt by Anar Huseynov.
Malta knew it had to improve after the change of ends and came close through Dejan Farrugia who hit the side-netting from a neat attack on the left wing just two minutes after the re-start. On 49 minutes, Malta broke the deadlock when Nathan Zerafa was released on the left side of the box, passing perfectly into the path of Farrugia whose grounder had the better of Habib Hushanov. Not much later, Lyon Abela should have done better with only the Azeri goalkeeper to beat but somehow fumbled the opportunity with Hushanov saving.
On the hour, Azerbaijan equalised when Nadir Orujov blasted past Sissons from an Ibrahimov assist, throwing the outcome in this group wide open. Not much later, Ibrahimov hit the side-netting from a promising angle which could have meant an Azeri lead.
On 77 minutes, Sheldon Borg’s header from a corner action was saved by Hushanov without much difficulty, another opportunity to score for the Maltese in the second half. Not much later on the other side, Ibrahimov came close with an angled shot which went wide. But on 80 minutes it was Shahismayil Jafarov who headed home the winner at the second post, with the ball passing the line via the crossbar.
On 87 minutes, Malta were unlucky when substitute Shaun Xiberras kicked against the post from just outside the box with the Azeri’s eventually clearing. It proved to be the final opportunity of the game as Malta failed to find the net despite a late rally.
In the other match, the Czech Republic beat Northern Ireland 4-0 to finish on top of this group with seven points. The Irish still finished second with six points, before Azerbaijan with three and Malta with one point.
Malta
James Sissons, Malik Amin (Jayden Vella 85), Sheldon Borg (Aiden Agius 90+1), Nathan Joyce, George Grima, Jack Camilleri (Jake Borg 80), Andreas Vella, Dejan Farrugia, Liam Micallef (Shaun Xiberras 85), Lyon Abela (Emerson Piscopo 70), Nathan Zerafa.
Coach: Vasco Regini
Azerbaijan
Habib Hushanov, Nadir Orujov, Tunjay Ahmadov, Omar Hasanli, Vusal Pashayev, Eltun Babazada, Aliakbar Rzazada, Rauf Gafarov (Anar Huseynov 33), Shahin Ibrahimov (Mehdi Mutallimli 89), Ziya Shakarkhanov (Nihad Orujali 70), Shahismayil Jafarov.
Coach: Elkhan Abdullayev
Referee
Oliver Reitala (FIN)