National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Bruno Boy made the kick off which started today's match. Emanuel Migneco charged in rather forcefully in the 3rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Emanuel Migneco the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Emanuel Migneco kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. If Bruno Boy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, U21 Malta's Jordan Albertis got a free kick in the 10th minute. Keith Maistre showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bruno Boy in the 11th minute of the match. Dawayne Coyle sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Keith Maistre came out of the goal in the 16th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Ireland's Bruno Boy. But to his dismay, Bruno Boy quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. When Kurt Schembri fell near the penalty area in the 18th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Malta's protests and gave Kurt Schembri a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, U21 Malta's Kurt Schembri got a free kick in the 18th minute. When U21 Ireland's Bruno Boy in the 22nd minute got a chance for a shot 22nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Malta's goalie prevented a goal. Bruno Boy received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Keith Maistre tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 27 minutes, Bruno Boy made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. U21 Malta's Keith Maistre tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. U21 Ireland were awarded a corner in the 36th minute after U21 Malta's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Artt Crowe took the corner. The corner first didn't look so dangerous but when Lewis Cassin got the ball he succeeded in some way to get through the defenders to deliver a very hard score. Result 0-3. 36 minutes into the match. The supporters of U21 Ireland booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Indrì Fonk didn't get a good kick on the ball. 41 minutes into the match, U21 Malta's goal looked a bit too open when Bruno Boy came free, but Keith Maistre reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Emanuel Migneco to strike the kick off in the second half. Ailill John took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Carlos Cousin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dawayne Coyle hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. After 66th play minutes Bruno Boy shot 0-5, a short shot which went by Keith Maistre and just under the crossbar into goal. U21 Ireland made a substitution. Rowen Johnson replaced Bruno Boy. U21 Ireland's Basil Savic was substituted for Dawayne Coyle. In the 75th minute of the match U21 Ireland got a corner. U21 Malta's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Gerard Tierney ran over to the corner to take the kick. Joseph Gravagna fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ailill John having to interfere. U21 Ireland's Rowen Johnson was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 79th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. When the match had gone on for 81 minutes, Rowen Johnson took a quick shot and it went in 0-7 without a chance for Keith Maistre to make any attempt to save it. After 83 played minutes U21 Ireland got a freekick which was hit by Banan Callaghan. Ailill John made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Evan Bardon in the 85th minute of play. Ailill John showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Evan Bardon, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. Rowen Johnson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Keith Maistre tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rowen Johnson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 91st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When Gerard Tierney fell near the penalty area in the 93rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Ireland's protests and gave Gerard Tierney a yellow card for diving instead. Gerard Tierney kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Indrì Fonk in the 94th minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Ailill John to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 94th minute, Indrì Fonk left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Malta fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-7. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. U21 Ireland had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.