Brave Malta U-19s lose narrowly to France
MALTA FRANCE 0 1
MALTA: Amara Sylla, Alexander Satariano, Dejan Debono, Shaun Dimech, Ayrton Attard, Marcus Grima, Paul Mbong (Andrei Spiteri 73’), Zak Grech, Christian Gauci, Adam Magri Overend (Clyde Bouvet 89’), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Jamie Sixsmith 84’)
FRANCE: Ilan Meslier, Arthur Zagre (Rayan Ait Nouri 88’), Oumar Solet, Claudio Gomes, Aurelien Tchouameni (Matam Theo Ndicka 79’), Maxence Caqueret, Alexis Flips, Charles Abi (Wilson Isidor 67’), Giulian Biancone, William Saliba, Julien Ponceau.
Referee: Duje Strukan (Croatia)
Yellow Cards: Attard 20; Grech 58
The Malta Under-19 team began their commitments in the 2019 UEFA Under-19 Championship Mini-Tournament (Group 6) with a narrow 1-0 defeat to France at the Centenary Stadium.
Led by coach Winston Muscat, the Maltese youngsters produced a disciplined performance to frustrate their more-quoted opponents who eventually prevailed thanks to Charles Abi’s first-half goal.
Amara Sylla, the Malta Under19 goalkeeper, produced a reassuring display as the entire Maltese team played a collective game against the strong French team.
France created some early chances with captain Claudio Gomes, Maxence Caqueret and Alexis Flips missing the target from good positions.
Les Bleus broke the deadlock after 35 minutes.
Giulian Biancone advanced on the right before serving Abi who fired a diagonal shot past Sylla.
France continued to see more of the ball in the second half but the Maltese players held firm.
With 10 minutes remaining, France came close to a second goal but Julien Ponceau’s shot was blocked by the Malta defenders.
Three minutes from time, France threatened again but Solet’s header hit the post.
In the second Group 6 match, played this afternoon at the Centenary Stadium. Belgium beat Lithuania 5-0.
The tournament continues on Saturday with France meeting Lithuania in the opening match at 11.00 while Malta face Belgium in the second fixture starting at 14.15.