National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10301 (Terracing: 7726, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Malta's Walter Aquilina started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Filimon Svistunov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Walter Aquilina in the 7th minute. After 8 played minutes U21 Malta got a freekick which was hit by Stanley Bonavita. Vseslav Slipchanko recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 10th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Walter Aquilina struck a weak shot in the 13th minute. Filimon Svistunov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Malta. After some fancy dribbling in the 15th minute, Staneslav Salei managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Belarus's supporters rose to their feet, but Staneslav Salei was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dylan Cini breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Walter Aquilina fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Filimon Svistunov having to interfere. After 22 minutes of play, U21 Belarus's Dmitry Fedaseenko made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dylan Cini was left in no man's land by his defense there! Filimon Svistunov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roderick Failla in the 26th minute of play. 27 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Belarus's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tyron Critien was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Malta's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Tyron Critien almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Belarus's Filimon Svistunov did a great save. 38 minutes into the match, U21 Belarus's Staneslav Salei sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dylan Cini narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dylan Cini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dmitry Fedaseenko in the 40th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Belarus's zone, Roderick Failla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Filimon Svistunov came out of the goal and Roderick Failla tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Filimon Svistunov stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Walter Aquilina's shot from short distance in the 43rd minute.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Dmitry Fedaseenko was the one to do the kick off. 51 minutes into the match, U21 Belarus's goal looked a bit too open when Walter Aquilina came free, but Filimon Svistunov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 52 minutes into the match, U21 Malta's goal looked a bit too open when Dmitry Fedaseenko came free, but Dylan Cini reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 54th minute, Tyrone Sammut hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dmitry Fedaseenko's late challenge caught a U21 Malta's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dmitry Fedaseenko helped the player get up and apologised. In the 56th match minute, U21 Belarus was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dmitry Fedaseenko to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of U21 Malta booed when U21 Belarus was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dmitry Fedaseenko didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Roderick Failla came up free with the goalie in the 60th minute, the U21 Malta fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Roderick Failla couldn't finish the play. In the 67th match minute, U21 Belarus was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aleksey Karankevich to maneuver through the defense. Roderick Failla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vseslav Slipchanko in the 75th minute of play forced U21 Malta's goalkeeper Dylan Cini to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to U21 Malta getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Stanley Bonavita hit a great ball. Filimon Svistunov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Walter Aquilina in the 81st minute of the match. Filimon Svistunov stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Walter Aquilina's shot from short distance in the 85th minute. 87 minutes into the game, U21 Malta's Walter Aquilina nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Filimon Svistunov made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Vseslav Slipchanko who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 92ndth minute tested the skills of Dylan Cini when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Roman Martynov hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. U21 Malta's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.