The Malta Under-21 National Team recorded a win in the first of two international friendlies away to San Marino, following a confident and attacking display at the Stadio Ezio Conti in Dogana.
Malta started on the front foot, stringing a couple of neat passes together early on. The first shot of the game came from Andy Borg, who tried his luck from long range, yet his shot was easily saved by Fabio Borasco.
In the 16th minute, Malta were awarded a free-kick from a very tight angle, but Nicholas Agius’ effort went over the bar.
Only minutes later, Malta got another free-kick. Joshua Pitts was entrusted to take it this time, and his shot was turned away by Borasco. From the resulting corner, Agius twisted and turned in the penalty area, carving some space, before hitting a shot that was tipped away by the San Marino goalkeeper.
San Marino had her first effort halfway through the first-half, as a corner was whipped into the penalty area by Marco Gasperoni, yet Diego Zavoli’s header went over the bar.
Malta continued to pile the pressure on the San Marino defence, pinning them in their own half. The team led by Coach Davide Mazzotta was making plenty of inroads into the Sna Marino defence, but could not find the back of the net.
In the closing stages of the half, San Marino were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Gabriel Capicchioni stepped up, and his left-footed strike cannoned off the bar after being tipped away by Hugo Sacco.
In the 44th minute, Malta had a big opportunity to go in front, as Joshua Pitts was fed the ball in between the San Marino defence, yet his left-footed effort was well saved by Borasco, keeping the score goalless.
Malta started the second-half looking to increase the rhythm of their play, and just a few minutes after the restart, a free-kick from Pitts found Nathan Cross, yet his header was tame and easily saved by the San Marino goalkeeper.
After countless pressure on the San Marino backline, the defence was finally breached in the 71st minute. An excellent cross from the right wing found Kean Scicluna, who having come on just seconds before, headed the ball into the back of the net to give Malta the lead.
Malta looked to continue their momentum in search of a second goal, and in the 76th minute, they came close to doing so, after Isaiah Chukunyere burst through down the right wing, yet his cross could not find a red shirt.
In the 84th minute, Sven Xerri and Zak Barbara combined very well, before the Maltese defender freed himself from his marker, hitting a powerful strike that went narrowly wide.
In the 89th minute, San Marino had a throw-in deep in Malta’s half, but the defence repelled the danger well, and the away side had a quick counter-attack on the cards. Gunner Elliott held the ball up well to find Chukunyere, who ran through on goal, but from a narrow angle, his shot went wide.
Despite San Marino’s efforts to equalise, Malta held out for the win. The two sides will meet again on Saturday 7th June 2025 at the Campo do Acquaviva, with kick-off at 18:00hrs.
San Marino
1 Fabio Borasco (GK), 3 Simone Gasperoni (4 Enea Della Balda 61’), 5 Riccardo Zafferani, 6 Diego Zavoli (21 Alberto Guerro 61’), 8 Marco Casadei, 9 Gabriel Capicchioni (18 Nicholas Protti 74’), 10 Marco Gasperoni (C) (20 Federico Ciacci 82’), 13 Nicolo Chiaruzzi (23 Simone Tamagnini 74’), 14 Tommy Cervellini (16 Alessandro Mularoni 61’), 19 Guilio Maria Bugli (11 Giacomo Molinari 82’), 22 Bartolomeo Riggioni
Coach: Matteo Cecchetti
Malta
12 Hugo Sacco (GK), 3 Mattias Ellul, 6 Andy Borg (10 Daniel Letherby 87’), 8 Joshua Pitts, 9 Nicholas Agius (13 Malik Amin 70’), 11 Nathan Cross (5 Sven Xerri 70’), 16 Jake Micallef (C) (7 Isaiah Chukunyere 70’), 18 Alfie Bridgman (21 Zak Barbara, 58’), 19 Benjamin Hili (2 Kean Scicluna 70’), 20 Jake Grech (15 Antiago De Flavia 87’), 22 Brooklyn Borg (14 Gunner Elliott 58’)
Coach: Davide Mazzotta
Referee: Mattia Andruccioli
Yellow cards: Diego Zavoli (SMR), Enea Della Balda (SMR), Gunner Elliott (MLT)
Source: Malta Football Association
Image: Malta Football Association
