Malta U18 defeated by Turkey U17 in a friendly match

MALTA U18 0-2 TURKEY U17 (HT 0-1  )

Ali Eren Unsungur 35’, Firat Alspoy 90’

Two goals, in each half gave Turkey U17 a deserved win over Malta U18 in the second of a friendly double header. 

Alessandro Zinnari made three changes to the starting line up for this match.  He opted for Nicholas Gatt, Alex Spiteri and Sean Gatt instead of Sasha Cachia, Nathan Cross and Brooklyn Borg.  Cross was injured in the last friendly match and thus was omitted from the line up, as was Kaiden Fenech.  In their stead Zinnari called up Shaisen Attard who was not present in the first match against Turkey.

Turkey Coach Soykan Basar opted to change nearly all his team but he kept Baran Ali Gezek, Ali Eren Ersungur, and Emirhan Demirci in the first eleven.

Turkey were the better team all through the game however the Maltese had their moments.  The hosts were unable to repeat the first game performance that held Turkey in a 2-2 draw.

The first biggest threat came at 20 minutes from the start of the game.  Turkey’s Mert Erol fired a powerful shot that was partially saved by Malta goalkeeper Sargent.

Five minutes later Malta’s Zak Barbara, intelligently sent a diagonal shot to Lucas Caruana who flicked the ball in the centre of the 18 yard box however he found Turkey’s defence attentive.

On 35 minutes Turkey broke the deadlock thanks to a first timer by Ali Eren Unsugur.

Turkey remained dangerous in the second half going near to doubling the score five minutes into the second time.  It was substitute Kaan Bengi whose effort went wide.

13 minutes from the start of the second half, substitute Shaisen Attard fired a powerful shot from the right, threatening Turkey’s goalkeeper who deflected the ball with a mighty punch. 

3 minutes after, Sargent drew a save on Ali Yesilyurt’s corner shot.

On 61 minutes, Firat Alspoy, dribbled past two defenders, and saw Malta’s custodian attentive who saved a clear goal

With approximately 15 minutes left of playing time, Malta were unlucky not to score.  Shaisen Attard took charge of a direct free kick which hit the crossbar.

In the dying minutes of the game, Turkey doubled the lead thanks to Firat Alspoy who received a ball and without hesitation fired a screamer to end the game 2-0.

 

MALTA: Karl Sargent, Nicholas Galea, Benjamin Hili, Lucas Caruana, Jake Micallef, Sven Xerri, Alex Spiteri, Andrew Borg, Sean Gatt, Jamie Scerri, Zak Barbara

SUBS: Adam Buttigieg, Matteo Gambin, Neil Meli, Deacon Abela, Josiah Mallia, Daniel Letherby, Gabriel Farrugia, Brooklyn Borg, Shaisen Attard, Sasha Cachia

COACH: Alessandro Zinnari

 

TURKEY: Deniz Ertas, Ali Turap Bulbul, Mert Erol, Ali Yesilyurt, Muhammed Eren Arkan Baran Ali Gezek, ali Eren Ersungur, Emirhan Demircan, Yusuf Inci, Halil Ozdemir, Yasin Uzakgider,

SUBS: Atakan Nuri Ordu, Mert Furkan Bayram, Kaan Bengi, Bugra Yildrim, Hijran Ali Boyaci, Emirhan Acar, Firat Alpsoy, Yunus Emre Doner, Ata Berk Karababa, Engin Efe Poyraz Yildrim, Efe Arda Koyuncu, Salih Malkocoglu, Efe Can Baran

COACH: Soykan Basar