National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Shaun Doublet made the kick off and thus started the match. In the 3rd minute Edvards Skaris shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giovanni Pace saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the U21 Malta defense, Edvards Skaris kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Giovanni Pace. The U21 Malta fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Giovanni Pace should have stopped the shot. Adam Xuereb kicked well hit freekick during the 8th minute of the match. Salvis Bumba's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Giovanni Pace read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 8th minute of play. Dravis Pāvuliņš showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Shaun Doublet, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. Julian Baldacchino kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, U21 Malta's Shawn Bartolo got a free kick in the 12th minute. U21 Latvia's Māris Blūms got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Shaun Doublet got free with Dravis Pāvuliņš in the 16th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Shaun Doublet in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dravis Pāvuliņš saved U21 Latvia from getting behind. Edvards Skaris sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With an all-out effort, U21 Malta's Dravis Pāvuliņš threw himself towards the right post 33 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Shaun Doublet, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. With a little luck, U21 Latvia's Dravis Pāvuliņš got control of the ball when Peter Debono tried to sneak it across the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Peter Debono got free with Dravis Pāvuliņš in the 34th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of U21 Latvia booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adam Xuereb didn't get a good kick on the ball. Aleksandrs Bulciņš was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 40th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edvards Skaris in the 42nd minute of play forced U21 Malta's goalkeeper Giovanni Pace to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Māris Blūms received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Giovanni Pace tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.
Giovanni Pace made an important save on a dangerous shot by Māris Blūms in the 50th minute. When U21 Latvia's Māris Blūms in the 51st minute got a chance for a shot 51st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Malta's goalie prevented a goal. In the 54th minute Peter Debono shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dravis Pāvuliņš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 56th minute, Māris Blūms made a precise shot to the right of Giovanni Pace. U21 Malta's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. With a little luck, U21 Malta's Giovanni Pace got control of the ball when Salvis Bumba tried to sneak it across the goal line. U21 Malta's Matt Filletti was substituted for Shawn Bartolo. U21 Latvia made a substitution. Persijs Kaktiņš replaced Salvis Bumba. U21 Malta made a substitution. Neil Gruppetta replaced Nathan Stivala. U21 Latvia's Dravis Pāvuliņš played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Neil Gruppetta in the 65th minute of play. U21 Latvia's Edvards Skaris got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 69 minutes U21 Malta's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Aleksandrs Bulciņš who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Aleksandrs Bulciņš almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Malta's Giovanni Pace did a great save. In the 72nd minute Shaun Doublet shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dravis Pāvuliņš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Giovanni Pace was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Edvards Skaris showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-4 in the 76 minute of play. U21 Malta's Glenn Schembri was substituted for Terence Cesareo. U21 Latvia's Dravis Pāvuliņš played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Shaun Doublet in the 82nd minute of play. Māris Blūms could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 84th minute of the match, but Giovanni Pace made a huge save. U21 Malta's Giovanni Pace played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Māris Blūms in the 86th minute of play. The supporters of U21 Malta booed when U21 Latvia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ingvars Tresters didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 Latvia's Dravis Pāvuliņš played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Neil Gruppetta in the 88th minute of play. After 92 played minutes U21 Latvia got a freekick which was hit by Valērijs Pīlēns. Dravis Pāvuliņš showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Peter Debono in the 93rd minute of the match. Persijs Kaktiņšs short, quick shot in the 96thth minute got Giovanni Pace to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. When the referee blew the final whistle jeers and boos were heard from the home team's supporters. They were angered to see U21 Malta lose a match they had controlled from the kick-off.
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