Coach Davide Mazzotta started his time in charge of the Malta U21 National Team with an impressive draw against Estonia in an international friendly on Tuesday.
The opening few minutes were very cagey, with both teams exchanging possession as the ball zipped on the pitch due to the heavy rainfall.
Malta upped the intensity in the 10th minute, and Nathan Cross broke free down the right flank with a blistering run, but his cross was eventually dealt with by the Estonian defence.
Malta’s first shot on goal came in the 16th minute, when an excellent move from the Maltese forwards freed up Andrew Borg at the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder hit a wonderful strike, but his effort was saved by Ott Nõmm and turned away for a corner.
Malta continued to pile on the pressure, yet Estonia remained dangerous on the counter. The away side opened the scoring in the 21st minute, when Mustmaa Karel made a surging run from the halfway line into the Maltese penalty area, before hitting a low shot that went past goalkeeper Hugo Sacco.
However, Malta immediately responded in the 24th minute, when a corner from Nicholas Agius found Keyon Ewurum at the back post, who guided a brilliant header into the net to make it 1-1.
Estonia remained dangerous on the attack though, and Mustmaa was proving particularly threatening. The Estonian forward ran through the Maltese defence, before hitting a powerful strike that was tipped onto the post by Sacco.
In the 42nd minute, Malta had another chance on goal, with Alfie Bridgman cutting in from the left, before firing a curling effort that was excellently saved by the Estonian goalkeeper.
Neither side could find another goal to go in front ahead of the break, and the score remained 1-1 at half-time.
At the start of the second-half, both sides struggled to control possession, with the match’s rhythm being interrupted by a number of stoppages in play.
Estonia had a major opportunity to go ahead in the 78th minute, after a pass was played through to Karel Eerme, and when faced with Sacco, the Maltese goalkeeper did just enough to put the Estonian forward off, with the strike going wide of the post.
Malta were presented with a chance to go ahead in the 86th minute, when they were awarded a free-kick close to the Estonian penalty area. Zak Barbara stepped up, and while his effort went under the wall, it was well-saved by the Estonian goalkeeper.
This was followed by another chance in the 88th minute, as Isaiah Chukunyere played Barbara through on the left. He cross ed the ball to Kian Leonardi, but the Maltese forward failed to make a clean connection, and his attempt did not trouble Nõmm.
Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw, after a solid showing from the young Maltese side.
Malta
12 Hugo Sacco (GK), 3 Mattias Ellul (2 Kean Scicluna 46’), 4 Finley Ging, 6 Andrew Borg (10 Daniel Letherby 46’), 8 Keyon Ewurum (7 Isaiah Chukunyere 46’), 9 Nicholas Agius (22 Sean Gatt 57’), 11 Nathan Cross, 16 Jake Micallef (C) (17 Aiden Zammit 46’), 18 Alfie Bridgman (14 Kian Leonardi 57’), 19 Benjamin Hili (13 Matteo Gambin 84’), 20 Jake Grech (21 Zak Barbara 46’)
Coach: Davide Mazzotta
Estonia
1 Ott Nõmm (GK) (C), 2 Sander Tovstik (3 Aleksander Filatov 46’), 4 Andreas Vaher (18 Robert Veering 46’), 5 Laurits Õunpuu (20 Hugo Palutaja 75’), 6 Oskar Hõim (16 Herman Pedmanson 75’), 7 Daniel Luts (17 Kristjan Kriis 57’), 8 Rommi Siht (13 Jegor Zuravljov 75’), 9 Ramol Sillamaa (11 Karel Eerme 57’), 14 Karel Mustmaa (24 Taavi Jurisoo 57’), 15 Mihhail Kolobov (19 Kristofer Kait 46’), 21 Tony Varjund (10 Maksim Kalimullin 57’)
Coach: Jani Sarajärvi
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow cards: Sander Tovstik (EST), Kristofer Kait (EST), Aiden Zammit (MLT)
Report: MFA
Photo: Craig Camilleri
