Malta U-17s raise performance in narrow defeat to Slovenia

SLOVENIA 2MALTA        1 The Malta Under-17 team produced a much-improved display in their second 2019 UEFA Under-17 Championship Group 3 match against Slovenia, going down 2-1 to the hosts at the NNC Brdo in Kranj.  Coming from a 7-0 defeat to Austria in their opener on Wednesday, the Maltese youngers were determined to give a better account of themselves against Slovenia who had edged Bulgaria 1-0 in their first match. Noel Turner, the Malta Under-17 coach, made two changes from the Austria defeat, Matthew Ellul and Emerson Camilleri coming in for Gianluca Sciberras and Isaac Galea. Benjam Sesko put Slovenia ahead on 18 minutes, guiding the ball home following a teasing corner by Martin Pecar. Malta rallied to equalise on 27 minutes. Mattia Veselji was floored inside the box by Gasper Pecnik and the St Andrews striker picked himself up to convert the ensuing penalty. It was Malta’s first goal in this tournament but, nine minutes from half-time, Slovenia restored their lead when Sesko scored his second goal of the game. Slovenia created the better chances in the second half but Malta also had their fair share of scoring opportunities with captain Karl Mohnani hitting wide while Jake Engerer’s effort was blocked. The four-team tournament comes to an end on Tuesday with the final two group games. Austria and Slovenia, level at the top with six points, will be involved in a direct clash while Malta take on Bulgaria, who lost 2-1 to Austria on Saturday. Both matches kick off at 14.30. SLOVENIAZan Luk Leban, Ziga Dajcman, Gasper Pecnik, Aleks Zlatkov, Luka Vukovic, Jan Majcen (73 Matic Krasovic), Benjamin Sesko, Martin Pecar, David Flakus Bosilj (64 Domen Zur), Ziga Slavicek, Vanja Panic. MALTADylan Ciappara, Sheldon Mizzi, Ismael Borg, Matthew Ellul (73 Isaac Galea), Karl Mohnani, Emerson Camilleri (82 Gianluca Sciberras), Mattia Veselji, Jordan Kelly (64), Jake Bone (33), Owen Spiteri, Jake Engerer (82 Kurt Desira). Referee: Dejan Jakimovski (Macedonia).