U21s hitting the crossbar twice in undeserved defeat to Scotland

UEFA U21 European Championship 2025, 17^th October 2023

Group B Qualifier, Fir Park Stadium, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Scotland … 2

Malta …….. 1

Scotland emerged winners in the 2025 UEFA European U21 Championships qualifying Group B match on Tuesday as they narrowly defeated Malta 2-1 in Motherwell.

Coach Ivan Woods named an unchanged starting eleven from the narrow defeat in a commendable performance on Friday by the boys against Belgium.

The first 45 was not quite dominated by the Scots, with Malta having its share of ball possession and opportunities.

The first chance of the contest for Malta in 7 minutes, Sciberras with a lovely ball from the right to the unmarked Veselji, who lashed a powerful shot, saved by Slicker in the Scotland goal.

Scotland responded on 12 minutes with a Mulligan shot blocked superbly by Sacco.

Malta’s resistance lasted 32 minutes, and Matthew Anderson was judged by Romanian referee to have been fouled in the box by Ellul.

Harsh decision by match official Marcel Birsan who pointed to the penalty spot, and Alex Lowry made no mistake from 12 yards as he lashed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Second half 52 minutes Malta leveled the score, with a second penalty of the game, when Veselji was fouled in the box by Anderson, Messina Calcio forward Andrea Zammit converted from the spot emphatically, the ball smoothly into the right corner, and the keeper diving to the opposite direction, and first goal for Malta in this Qualifying group.

Seconds later Malta close to take the lead, substitute Nikolai Micallef could have joined the scoring act, unleashing an absolute rocket the ball hitting the crossbar with the Scottish goalkeeper beaten.

After conceding, Scotland forged very few opportunities against a staunch Malta rearguard, who remained solid, fearless going forward, imposing their own style of play, and confident in ball possession situations.

Winning goal for Scotland however on 82 minutes a solo run on the right by Mulligan, his low cross finding Kieron Bowie unmarked on the far post, from the acutest of angles the Fulham winger found the net.

A few moments later second cross bar hit by unlucky Malta from a Veselji glancing header, with Scotland's keeper beaten once again.

The full-time result, in a match where Malta made further progress in this undeserved defeat, Scotland 2 Malta 1.

Scotland U21 – 1. Cieran Slicker, 3. Matthew Anderson, 4. Liam Morrison ©, 6. Leon King, 8. Connor Barron, 10. Alex Lowry (Ibane Bowat 85), 15. Josh Mulligan, 16. Lewis Neilson (Rory Wilson 60), 19. Kieron Bowie, 20. Jeremiah Mullen, 22. Ben McPherson (Michael Mellon 60).

Malta U21 – 12. Hugo Sacco, 3. Owen Spiteri, 4. Jake Vassallo, 5. Matthew Ellul, 6. Karl Mohnani (Nikolai Micallef 46), 7. Mattia Veselji, 10. Andrea Zammit ©, 11. Aleandro Garzia, 17. Gianluca Sciberras (Jake Engerer 90), 18. Andy Borg, 20. Kurt Bondin.

Subs not used – Dylan Ciappara, Zean Leonardi, Isaac Cutajar, Mattias Ellul, Alfie Bridgman, Daniel Letherby, Jamie Carbone.

Referee – Marcel Birsan (Romania).

Attendance – 1347.