National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Xarex Mangkay started the match with the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 4th minute, Ashley Pantalleresco managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Malta's supporters rose to their feet, but Ashley Pantalleresco was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Leon Bongubung breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. U21 Malta's Dyson Trevisan suffered a concussion in the 6th minute, after a hard challenge, and had to leave the field. U21 Malta's Marco Michele was substituted for Dyson Trevisan. 6 minutes into the game, one of U21 Philippines:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. The referee gave U21 Malta a penalty, 9 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Ashley Pantalleresco, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of U21 Philippines's Leon Bongubung. 0-1. Leon Bongubung didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Francesco Arapa went, in the 14th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. U21 Philippines's Leon Bongubung played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ashley Pantalleresco in the 19th minute of play. U21 Malta's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Marcel Sant Manduca in the 20th minute. After taking down the ball on U21 Malta's corner Alan Sofia fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Leon Bongubung quite easily take care of the ball. Ashley Pantalleresco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 26 played minutes U21 Malta got a freekick which was hit by Alan Sofia. In the 27th minute, Dennis Lorenzo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 30 minutes into the match, U21 Malta's goalkeeper Tonio Buttigieg had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Xarex Mangkay. In the 40th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Philippines's goalkeeper Leon Bongubung, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Leon Bongubung made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ashley Pantalleresco in the 41st minute of play. Marco Michele fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Leon Bongubung having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Xarex Mangkay got free with Tonio Buttigieg in the 45th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 47th minute Ashley Pantalleresco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leon Bongubung saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ashley Pantalleresco to strike the kick off in the second half. Ashley Pantalleresco succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-3 in the 50th playminute. In the 54th match minute, U21 Malta was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bernard Aber to maneuver through the defense. Ashley Pantalleresco scored 0-4 in the 55th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Leon Bongubung, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. When Carmelo Swindells fell near the penalty area in the 64th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Malta's protests and gave Carmelo Swindells a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of U21 Philippines booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 64 match minutes in a wonderful position. Carmelo Swindells didn't get a good kick on the ball. Willard Lindawan took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 65th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Tonio Buttigieg. U21 Malta's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. After a rather tough play, U21 Malta's Yan Vascotto got a free kick in the 65th minute. Ashley Pantalleresco who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 69thth minute tested the skills of Leon Bongubung when he managed to save the team from getting behind. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ashley Pantalleresco in the 72nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Leon Bongubung saved U21 Philippines from getting behind. Leon Bongubung made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ashley Pantalleresco in the 80th minute of play. During the 80th minute of the match Dennis Lorenzo completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Dennis Lorenzo a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. In the 81st match minute, U21 Philippines was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dennis Lorenzo to maneuver through the defense. U21 Philippines made a substitution. Warren Chavez replaced Willard Lindawan. In the 82nd minute, Dennis Lorenzo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a rather tough play, U21 Malta's Francesco Arapa got a free kick in the 87th minute. An unexpected shot in the 88th minute by Ashley Pantalleresco got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Ashley Pantalleresco who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 94thth minute tested the skills of Leon Bongubung when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Leon Bongubung didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 95th minute, which inside left pole to 0-5. When the match was over U21 Malta could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than U21 Philippines throughout the match.