National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Colon Valls got the match started through his kick off. After 3 played minutes U21 Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Frederik Sande. After having played for 4 minutes, Mike Ellul Bonici managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Malta's supporters crossed their fingers, but Mike Ellul Bonici was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Carmel Cauchi Inglott sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 7th minute, Omar Osorio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. John Mary Marmara's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Xavian Carpio read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 9th minute of play. After 9 minutes of play, U21 Malta's John Mary Marmara made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Xavian Carpio was left in no man's land by his defense there! Xavian Carpio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Neil Salinos in the 12th minute of the match. If Colon Valls had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Malta's John Mary Casa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Colon Valls in the 17th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Amadeo Inguanez during the 18th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Amadeo Inguanez hit a great freekick 19 minutes into the match. In the 21st minute, John Mary Marmara ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Xavian Carpio was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. Amadeo Inguanez kicked well hit freekick during the 27th minute of the match. Colon Valls recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 35th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to U21 Malta getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. John Mary Marmara hit a great ball. In the 47th minute of the match, Silviano Laguillo tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but John Mary Casa saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. U21 Malta made a substitution. Tyron Busietta replaced John Mary Marmara. After 50 minutes U21 Malta's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Omar Osorio who took care of the corner kick. U21 Venezuela's Omar Osorio was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but John Mary Casa in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Tyron Busietta to strike the kick off in the second half. The supporters of U21 Malta booed when U21 Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marcelo Balanta didn't get a good kick on the ball. 54 minutes into the match, U21 Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Tyron Busietta came free, but Xavian Carpio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Carmel Cauchi Inglott kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. Marcelo Balanta hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. In the 60th match minute, U21 Malta was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by George Sabatino to maneuver through the defense. Xavian Carpio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carmel Cauchi Inglott in the 63rd minute of the match. John Mary Casa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Colon Valls, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 69 minutes into the match, U21 Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Carmel Cauchi Inglott came free, but Xavian Carpio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. U21 Venezuela's Estevam Cotrofe was substituted for Colon Valls. In the 75thth minute of the game Silviano Laguillo who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Malta's John Mary Casa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. John Mary Casa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Silviano Laguillo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of U21 Venezuela booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Amadeo Inguanez didn't get a good kick on the ball. 88 minutes into the match, Silviano Laguillo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of John Mary Casa. U21 Malta's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Silviano Laguillo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. Amadeo Inguanez kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. In the 96th minute, Tyron Busietta got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. U21 Malta walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.