The Malta Under-16 National Team fell to a narrow defeat in their second UEFA Development Tournament match, in a close encounter on Friday afternoon against San Marino.

Malta started strong, carving some neat passages of play in the opening few minutes. In the fifth minute, they came close to opening the scoring, when Matthew Higgans made a darting run down the left channel, before cutting it back to Mateja Stevanovic, yet he failed to make a clean contact with the ball.

Photo courtesy of Malta FA

However, San Marino were the ones to take the lead in the eighth minute, when a free-kick was blocked by the Maltese wall, yet the ball fell to Francesco Monaldi, whose shot was deflected by Diego Prendi, flying into the Maltese goal.

Malta looked to bounce back from the early setback, and they were starting to control most of the play in midfield, yet San Marino were still having their opportunities on the counter.

In the 33rd minute, San Marino doubled their advantage, when a lobbed pass found Francesco Aureli, who hit a powerful strike into the back of the net.

Malta pushed in search of a way back into the game, but they could not find the net in the first half, and the two sides went into the break with the score 2-0 to San Marino.

Malta came out for the second half looking to get an early goal, and they almost did in the 57th minute, when a quick move from back to front led to Gianni Zerafa receiving the ball from wide, and his thunderous effort was tipped away for a corner.

The home side came close to getting a goal back in the 68th minute, when a cross from Kaiden Grixti found Ayrem Aquilina, yet his header went straight at goalkeeper Ryan Michelotti. Malta hit the bar in the 70th minute, when Jayden Roe picked up the ball from the edge of the penalty area, and after cutting inside, he hit a curling effort that struck the woodwork.

After putting the San Marino defender under so much pressure, Malta finally got their goal, as Nicholas Busuttil found Kenzil Vella on the left, and his effort from wide sailed into the back of the net.

In the 90th minute, Malta were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box, and Lukas Freddie Wright stepped up to take it, but it was saved by Michelotti. Malta could not find another way through the San Marino backline, and the match finished 2-1 to the visitors.

Malta’s next match in the UEFA Development Tournament will be on Monday 9th March against Andorra, kicking off at 13:30hrs.

MALTA
1 Noah Mulholland (GK), 2 Liam Gatt (16 Luke Buttigieg, 78’), 6 Kayden Hili (4 Nicholas Busuttil, 46’), 7 Mateja Stevanovic (3 Giorgio Cristauro, 63’), 8 Jayden Roe (C), 11 Mathew Higgans (9 Lukas Freddie Wright, 63’), 13 Liam Galea (10 Ayrem Aquilina, 63’), 14 Emerson Agius (5 Matteo Mangion, 46’), 15 Kaiden Grixti, 18 Sean Farrugia (19 Kenzil Vella, 63’), 20 Gianni Zerafa (17 Cole Zerafa, 78’)
Coach: Davide Mazzotta

SAN MARINO
1 Ryan Michelotti (GK), 2 Samuel Mattei, 3 Giacomo Montali, 4 Nathan Cola, 5 Mattia Piergiacomi (14 Mattia Ceccoli, 58’), 6 Diego Prendi, 7 Augusto Ceccoli (18 Davide Frulli, 58’), 8 Francesco Monaldi (16 Samuel Baggiarni, 58’), 9 Achille Montebelli (20 Alesandro Achilli, 85’), 10 Francesco Mazza (C) (17 Lorenzo Frisoni, 79’), 11 Francesco Aureli (13 Michele Angelini, 79’)
Coach: Alessandro Loris Bonesso

Referee: Matteo Falzon