Malta U-21 trounced by modest opponents

Malta 0
Kazakhstan 3

Coach Mark Miller is still in search of his first positive result with Malta U-21 after his team slumped to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Kazakhstan at the Hibs Ground yesterday.

It was a poor display by Miller's lads. In their previous outings in the Euro Championship qualifiers, it was clearly evident that the U-21 team's major deficiency was a lack of constructive play, especially up front.

Yesterday, these problems again came to the fore. Despite holding most of the possession, the Maltese rarely ventured past the Kazakhi rearguard. The locals lacked flair and initiative in their play as they tried to make inroads in their opponents' half with a series of long balls which were easily dealt with by the plucky visitors.

Certainly, with the away match against France only a few weeks away, the U-21 clan must work overtime to regain confidence and try new tactics.

Kazakhstan, who were only accepted to the UEFA fold last year, had a squad of home-based players. They are not figuring in the Euro Championship and are looking to build a solid team for the future.

Mauro Brincat, the Hamrun midfielder, was winning his first U-21 cap for Malta and so was Floriana forward Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. The latter almost capped his debut with a goal after only nine minutes when he was first on a Shaun Bajada corner but his header sailed just over.

The Kazakhstan reply arrived on 23 minutes. However, an Alibe Buleshev shot was easily neutralised by goalkeeper Justin Haber.

Here, the Maltese suffered a dip in form as Kazakhstan imposed their superiority on the match. Roderick Briffa was the first player to go down in the referee's book after a foul on Kairat Ashiiebchov.

Haber then came to Malta's rescue when Andrey Finonchenko released Buleshev but the onrushing Malta goalkeeper blocked the shot.

Malta endured another scare soon after when the same Buleshev worked his way past two Malta defenders but his low shot skimmed past the upright with Haber beaten.

The agility of the Kazakhi forwards was causing problems to the Malta defence. Kairat Nuedauletov's shot had power but lacked precision. Here, Haber had to cry out injured and relinquished his place to inexperienced understudy Kristian Calleja of Lija Athletic.

The visitors' surge was halted in the 44th minute when Malta won a corner but Briffa's header, from close in, went wide.

Six minutes of added time were ordered by referee Adrian Casha and just before the half-time whistle Kazakhstan forged ahead. From a Zhumaskaliev corner, Rinat Abdulin's firm header beat Calleja hands down.

Miller roped in Roderick Bajada after the interval to add more steel in midfield. The team was pushing forward more frequently now but Kazakhstan were still posing problems with their swift play.

On 53 minutes, the hosts almost conceded a second but Buleshev failed to control the ball, giving Calleja enough time to cover his goal.

But, right on the hour, it was 2-0. Substitute Evgeny Kostrub sent a perfect pass to Igor Yurin who nodded home past Calleja.

The first Maltese attempt at goal after the break arrived on 68 minutes when substitute Nicolò Baldacchino's effort, from a Shaun Bajada corner, was blocked by substitute goalkeeper Mokin.

However, in their next immediate foray in Malta's half, Kazakhstan scored again. From another fast raid, Kanin's shot was partially blocked by Calleja, the loose ball falling to Yurin's feet who scored with ease. This was in the 71st minute.

Malta were down and out. Until the final whistle they only had a Kevin Sammut effort to show but his drive was cleared in time by Lobadosku who denied the hosts a consolation goal.

Malta: J. Haber (K. Calleja), L. Lombardi (K. Farrugia), I. Azzopardi (R. Mintoff), R. Briffa (J. Agius), G. Sciberras, E. Barbara, K. Sammut, M. Brincat (T. Cilia), J.P. Mifsud Triganza (N. Baldacchino), S. Bajada, A. Zahra (R. Bajada).

Kazakhstan: I. Yurov (A. Mokin), P. Maltsev (E. Kostrub), R. Abdulin, N. Zhumaskaliev, A. Buleshev (K. Kanin), A. Finonchenko (S. Lobadosku), I. Yurin, K. Nuedauletov, K. Ashiiebckov (A. Volodin), D. Shetkin, I. Fomichev.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Scorers: Abdulin 45; Yurin 60, 71.