Resilient Malta play out goalless draw against strong North Macedonia side

UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
Centenary Stadium, 16.02.2025

MALTA…0
NORTH MACEDONIA…0
(HT 0-0)

 
Earlier today, the Under-16 boys played their second international friendly against North Macedonia in the space of three days, playing out a goalless draw after a splendid second half display in which they certainly deserved to score.   
In the first game last Saturday, the North Macedonians proved to be too strong with a 0-5 final score, with Malta playing with 10 players for over 80 minutes, a match with still various positives for the Maltese youngsters. 
 
Early on, North Macedonian striker Medin Emini had an attempt on goal which sailed high while on seven minutes, while the hosts had a similar attempt through Mateja Stevanovic which also failed to hit target.

Malta goalkeeper Noah Mulholland produced a few good interceptions from a series of corners for North Macedonia and on 24 minutes, centre-back Filip Gjiorgjioski blasted high from close-range after a free-kick action. The guests had a few more half-chances before the break but eventually the half ended goalless. 

 
Malta improved well after the break, locking their counterparts into their own half for long stretches. On 58 minutes, Sean Farrugia went down the right flank, shaking off his direct marker with North Macedonian goalkeeper Dimitar Petrov interfering well.

10 minutes later, Gianni Zerafa was brought down in the box, what looked to be a penalty but the referee waved to play on. On 71 minutes on the other side, Mulholland did well to parade a point-blank Marin Krstevski opportunity, surely the best opportunity for the guests after the break.

In the last part of the game, Gianni Zerafa’s on-target attempt was turned into a corner after another neat built-up by Malta. In stoppage time, Petrov denied Jerome Gaffiero from scoring the winner, blocking his header in style.  
 
Malta 
Noah Mulholland (Max Mizzi Mifsud 79'), Luke Buttigieg (Zack Xiberras 90'), Giorgio Cristauro (Kenzil Vella 76'), Nicholas Busuttil (Kaden Camilleri 90'), Matteo Mangion (Andrei Agius 90'), Emerson Agius (Liam Gatt 90'), Mateja Stevanovic (Liam Galea 75'), Sean Farrugia (Jerome Gaffiero 76'), Lukas Freddie Wright (Kenzil Vella 79'), Ayrem Aquilina (Gianni Zerafa 46'), Matthew Higgans (Cole Zerafa 46').  
Coach: Davide Mazzotta 
 
North Macedonia 
Dimitar Petrov, Adrian Veleski (Mihajlo Pavlov 71'), Filip Gjorgjioski (Matej Nikolov 79'), Amar Akiki (Mitko Stojanov 79'), Djihan Ibraimi (Ognen Sivevski 71'), Matej Bocheski, Aleksandar Polimac (Ilija Aksentiev 66'), Bobi Nedanovski (Marin Krstevski 66'), Efe Raifi (Dardan Ademi 46'), Medin Emini (Ejser Fetai 79'), Blagojche Sedloski (Dalibor Markovic 71').  
Coach: Ilami Isejni 
 
Referee 
Kieron Haber (Malta)