MALTA U-16 1-6 SLOVAKIA U-16
Suchonova 7, Plchova 27, Havalec 51, Glodova 79, Havalec 84. Glodova 90 (S), Farrugia 52 (M).
The U-16’s girls selection found the tough going against a strong Slovakia side as they fell to a 6-1 defeat in their second UEFA Development Tournament game.
The Slovak team have now won their opening couple of games against the Faroe Islands (3-1) and Malta as they are on the brink of topping the four-team tournament.
For this game, coach Kathleen Saliba introduced new faces in the starting formation including Nilayza Attard, Ylenia Azzopardi, Amber Galea and Maia Gauci who all started on the bench against Latvia.
The Maltese created their first opportunity through captain Lexine Farrugia but her long-distance effort failed to hit the target.
The Raiders Lija player forced the Slovakia goalkeeper into action with a well-struck effort as she wasted no time to showcase her skills.
However, it was Slovakia who forged ahead through Emily Suchonova who capitalised on Michaela Pekarova’s cross from the right side to beat Erika Muscat.
Malta’s main threats continued to be produced by Farrugia who kept on testing Slovakia’s goalkeeper from long distance, but her efforts were in vain.
Yet, it was Slovakia who found the net again this time through Lenka Plchova who beat Muscat from close-range.
After the change of ends, Victoria Havalec beat her marker and substitute goalkeeper Maya Muscat to extend Slovakia’s lead.
This time, Malta pulled one back immediately when Farrugia profited from a Slovakia mistake at the back to blast a low drive and put her name on the scoresheet for the first time in this tournament.
Slovakia found a fourth through newcomer Melania Glodova who rounded goalkeeper Muscat and converted into empty net.
Havalec grabbed her personal brace as she added Slovakia’s fifth six minutes from time before completing her hat-trick in stoppage time.
Malta’s final commitment from this tournament will be on Monday when they host the Faroe Islands, at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).
MALTA
E. Muscat (46 M. Muscat); F. Bartolo, L. Farrugia (74 L. Calleja), A. Micallef, T. Scicluna, A. Vassallo (65 S. Saliba), N. Celeste (65 K. Micallef), N. Attard (87 L. Azzopardi), Y. Azzopardi (35 E. Micallef), A. Galea (74 S. Francalanza), M. Gauci (74 I. Abela).
Coach: Kathleen Saliba.
SLOVAKIA
N. Krizanova; K. Tordajiova, M. Slukova, E. Marhekova, L. Plchova, S. Horvathova, H. Michalikova, M. Pekarova, N. Bobcekova, E. Suchonova (74 M. Glodova), S. Halasova.
Coach: Jozef Jelsic.
