The Malta U-19 national team came agonisingly close to upsetting the Czech Republic in a European Championship at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.
The Czechs were overwhelming favourites to take all three points, particularly after winning their opening match against Azerbaijan 6-1 last week.
However, the home side, despite conceding possession for long spells to their more-quoted opponents, remained focused and managed to take the chances that came their way and came agonisingly close to taking the three points when surging 2-1 up thanks to goals from Dejan Farrugia and Jake Borg.
But the Czechs managed to hold on to a point thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser.
“Personally, there is more disappointment than satisfaction for this result as we wee just a couple of minutes away from a famous victory,” Vergini told the Times of Malta.
“The players are happy because they managed to play at a par with the best team in the group, and hopefully, this is the way forward for this team, as I firmly believe that there is ample room to grow.
“I only arrived in Malta in August, and it took me two months to see the potential of the players, so I used most of the friendlies to try out players. But once we made the selection for this tournament, we worked a lot on the team’s fighting spirit and determination as if you have that you can aspire to get results.
“I am pleased to see that these players have a great will to develop and grow and that is very important and I am sure that we can aspire to get more positive results.”
Malta coach Vasco Regini made four changes to his starting formation as George Grima, Liam Micallef, Lyon Abela and Andreas Vella were drafted in at the expense of Aidan Agius, Jake Borg, Jack Camilleri and Emerson Piscopo.
The Czechs opted to start with Louis Buffon, the son of Italy great Gianluigi Buffon, on the bench, with the Pisa striker entering the fray towards the end of the game.
Czechia started strongly and after four minutes, Adam Sosna raced clear but fired wide.
On 14 minutes, Malta goalkeeper James Sissons did well to block a close-range Jakub Rehak attempt and from the resultant corner, captain Stepan Beran rose high to head just over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, the guests took the lead from a Lukas Dvoracek corner which was headed in by Jiri Micek.
On 34 minutes, Malta were unlucky when Kai Bartolo sped inside the area but his shot hit the post.
On 54 minutes, Thomas Melillo sent Andreas Vella through on the right side, serving Liam Micallef, whose shot was blocked by Patrik Siegl.
Malta levelled three minutes later when Farrugia hit a thumping drive that flew into the top corner.
The hosts went close again on 74 minutes when Bartolo laid up for Mellilo, whose shot hit the bar.
The Czechs piled up the pressure late on and Simmons came to Malta’s rescue when he denied the goal-bound Josef Kolarik.
Malta thought they had won it when in stoppage time, substitute Jake Borg curled his direct free-kick from the left behind Basta to give Malta the lead.
But, with the finish in sight, just two minutes later, Micek headed the ball past Simmons to rescue a point for the Czechs.
Malta will be in action again on Tuesday against Azerbaijan, where a win could see the team advance to the Elite Round.
MALTA: James Sissons, Malik Amin, Sheldon Borg (Jake Borg 80), Nathan Joyce, George Grima, Thomas Melillo (Shaun Xiberras 90), Andreas Vella, Dejan Farrugia, Liam Micallef (Jack Camilleri 68), Lyon Abela (Emerson Piscopo 68), Kai Bartolo (Nathan Zerafa 80).
CZECHIA: Daniel Basta, Stepan Beran, Patrick Siegl (Simon Sloncik 72), Jiri Micek, Jakub Kolisek, Tomas Hellebrand, Marek Naskos (Tadeas Frydl 65), Adam Sosna (Josef Kolarik 65), Lukas Dvoracek, Daniel Svancara (Lukas Moudry 46), Jakub Rehak (Louis Buffon 77).
