Latvia piles more misery on Malta U-21

MALTA           0

LATVIA           1

Cesnieks 60

MALTA

K. Sargeant, S. Xerri, K. Scicluna (46 J. Vassallo), J. Micallef, S. Attard (64 K. Ewurum), L. Caruana (82 S. Gatt), D. Letherby (23 J. Grech), J. Azzopardi, B. Hili, B. Tuma, J. Pitts (64 N. Agius).

LATVIA  

N. Parfjonovs, G. Mihajcovs, M. Semesko, D. Nosegbe-Susko, M. Tihonovics, K. Cesnieks, D. Anisjko (46 R. Bocs) (89 E. Evelons), I. Patrikejevs, G. Zaleiko, M. Strods, V. Lizunovs.

REFEREE: Mehmet Turkmen (Turkey FA).

Yellow cards: Gatt, Parfjonovs

Red card: Hili (M) 84.

The Malta U-21 suffered their fifth successive defeat in the European Championship qualifiers after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Latvia.

It was another disappointing night for Davide Mazzotta’s boys who struggled to get going against the Latvians, who dominated the majority of the match and it had to be goalkeeper Karl Sargeant who denied them a bigger victory.

The Maltese lacked fluency in attack and it was only when Keyun Ewurum and Nicholas Agius were sent on that the team started to pose danger but still was not enough to rescue a point.

Latvia were the better side early on and after eight minutes, Glebs Zaleiko fired just wide, and two minutes later, the same player saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Karl Sargeant.

The Maltese youngsters were struggling to come out of their half much to the disappointment of coach Davide Mazzotta, as their possession game was leaving much to be desired.

Mazzotta suffered a blow on 21 minutes as Daniel Letherby pulled out injured and was replaced by Żabbar St Patrick’s Jake Grech.

Latvia kept pushing, and on 23 minutes, Kevins Cesnieks forced a fine reflex save by Sargeant.

After a positive spell of possession from the home side, it was Latvia who came closest to taking the lead, had it not been for Sargeant.

 Valerijs Lizunovs chested the ball inside the area and hit a thumping drive that was turned away by the Gżira goalkeeper.

Sargeant again came to Malta’s rescue on 41 minutes when he somehow kept out
Nosegbe-Suško’s thumping header.

The match maintained the same script after the break, with Sargeant quickly back into action to deny substitute Roberts Bocs.

Malta’s best chance came on 57 minutes when Jake Azzopardi picked Joshua Pitts inside the area, and his low drive was brilliantly kept out by Parfjonovs.

Instead, it was Latvia who took the lead on the hour mark.

Sargeant made a hash in his attempt to punch away Zaleiko’s delivery from a corner and in came Kevins Cesnieks, who stabbed the ball into the net.

Mazzotta, here roped in Keyum Ewurum and Nicholas Agius in a bid to add more punch to the hosts’ forward line.

And it was Ewurum, who, threatened by his shot, was pushed over by the Latvia goalkeeper.

Malta had another chance on 73 minutes when, from a Lucas Caruana free-kick, Jake Vassallo’s shot was deflected just wide.

But the game became even more difficult for Malta on 84 minutes when Benjamin Hili was shown a straight red card to cap another miserable night for the Malta youngsters.