Rampant Scotland hit erratic Malta U-21 for five at National Stadium

MALTA     0      

SCOTLAND     5

Ellul 3 og; Miller 9, 56

Mulligan 17; Neilson 82

MALTA

M. Debono, Z. Leonardi (88 M. Gambin), M. Ellul (76 J. Vella), M. Veselji (58 I. Chukunyere), D. Scicluna, B. Tuma, A. Zammit, N. Micallef (76 K. Mohnani), J. Micallef, S. Xerri, A. Borg.

SCOTLAND

C. Slicker, M. Johnston, D. Murray (46 D. Watson), L. Miller, A. Mebude (75 B. Wales), J. Mulligan (75 C. Ramsay), L. Neilson, L. Cameron (85 M. Thomson), K. Bowie (36 D. Kelly), J. Mulen, E. Wilson.

Referee: Edgar Malcevs (Latvia).

Yellow cards Slicker, Mulligan

The Malta U-21 national team suffered a second successive heavy defeat in the space of a few days when they were beaten by Scotland 5-0 in a European Championship qualifier at the National Stadium.

The Malta youngsters were coming from a 4-1 upset in Kazakhstan where they were made to pay for their defensive mistakes. Things didn’t improve yesterday Ivan Woods’ boys experienced a disastrous start when falling three goals behind inside 17 minutes.

From then on there was no way back as the Scots were full in command and added two more goals after the break to wrap up the points and leave Malta without a point after eight matches.

Malta coach Clive Mizzi was forced to make three changes to his starting formation as Kurt Bondin, and Owen Spiteri were ruled out by suspension while Aleandro Garzia missed out with a hamstring injury.

Sven Xerri, Zean Leonardi and Andrea Zammit were all drafted in the starting formation alongside goalkeeper Matthias Debono who replaced Hugo Sacco in goal.

Unfortunately, Debono was forced to pick the ball from his own net inside the first two minutes when team-mate Matthew Ellul inadvertently turned Lewis Neilson’s cross into his own net.

Straigth from kick-off, Scotland goalkeeper Cieran Slicker was lucky to stay on the pitch when he charged out of his goal and fouled the charging Mattia Veselji just outside the area.

 But Latvian referee Edgars Maicevs opted to book the Scotland goalkeeper.

Things got from bad to worse from the hosts on nine minutes when Scotland doubled their lead.

Dane Murray was given time and space to connect to Lennon Miller’s cross and head into the net.

Malta’s defensive frailties regaled Scotland a third goal on 17 minutes when Scicluna’s pass just outside the area was intercepted by Kieran Bowie who avoided the charging Debono and pass to Mulligan who fired into an empty net.

On 26 minutes, Tuma should have pulled a goal back for Malta when Andrea Zammit beat Scotland’s offside trap sped inside the area, and served the unmarked Reading forward who incredibly fired wide.

Five minutes from half-time Tuma had another chance when he picked up a rebound inside the area but his shot was pushed away by Slicker.

On 55 minutes, Scotland again punished Malta’s lax defending when substitute Daniel Kelly picked the unmarked Miller who headed past Debono.

Twenty minutes from time, the woodwork denied Malta a consolation goal as Jake Micallef saw his shot coming off the bar.

It was Scotland who added a fifth goal eight minutes from time when Lewis Neilson fired home from Miller’s pass to wrap up a disappointing day for Malta U-21.