25.03.2022UNDER-16 FRIENDLYTa’ Qali Training GroundsMALTA…2AZERBAIJAN…2(HT 1-0)1-0 Jake Azzopardi 37, 1-1 Ashraf Alakbarli 50, 1-2 Dinamin Baghirov 60, 2-2 Keyon Ewurum 86.The Maltese Under-16 team, led by Andrea Vella, kicked off their 2022 commitments with a two all draw against Azerbaijan in a Friendly encounter this morning at the Ta’ Qali training grounds. It was an entertaining match with both sets of players creating numerous goalscoring opportunities. Eventually, the draw was a just result.
Both teams started the match on the offense, with both goalkeepers Niklas Vella and Sadig Mammadzada managing to keep their opponents at bay. After just two minutes, Azeri striker Niyazi Osmanov could have put the guests 1-0 up but missed target with only Vella to beat and on 10 minutes, Vella blocked a close-range Ilkin Jafarli attempt in style. Malta’s first opportunity arrived on 18 minutes when Jake Azzopardi was inches short of opening the score as he could not connect to a Nexille Grech cross in front of a nearly empty goal. Close to the half hour, Osmanov’s goal was called off due to an offsite infringement while in the 34th and 35th minute on the other side, Felippe Bugeja had two good opportunities but found Azeri custodian Sadig Mamadzada in his way. However, on 37 minutes, Malta broke the deadlock thanks to Azzopardi who rounded off some good work on the right wing. On the stroke of half-time, Malta could have doubled but Liam Delicata’s close-range attempt sailed inches over the crossbar. The guests turned around the match within the first 15 minutes of the match. Five minutes after the resumption, Azerbaijan punished off some hesitation in the Malta defence, thanks to a rebound goal by substitute Ashraf Alakbarli, who rounded off after Vella failed to control a shot by Sadig Mammadli. On the hour, Dinamin Baghirov put the guests in front thanks to a shot from just outside the box which hit the inside of the post, beating Vella hands down. Two minutes later, Malta were awarded a penalty but Nexille Grech’s spotkick was saved by Mammadzada. Substitute Keyon Ewurum had a good opportunity on 70 minutes after some good work on the left by the hard-working Shaun Carabott but his close-range effort was paraded by the Azeri custodian. Malta scored the deserved equaliser on 86 minutes, thanks to Ewurum who scored a splendid goal, rounding off some good work by Peter Ohaka on the right flank. Malta and Azerbaijan meet again on Monday morning at the same venue for a second Friendly, kick off 11h. MaltaNiklas Vella, Kewell Fardell (Lucas Okeke 77), Nic Briffa, Kayden Farrugia, Shaun Carabott (Peter Ohaka 77), Kean Scicluna (Sasa Glumac 77), Jake Azzopardi (Gerrard Rodgers-Cann 85), Aiden Zammit (Lenny Mattocks 66), Felippe Bugeja (Keyon Ewurum 66), Liam Delicata (Bradley Farrugia 85), Nexille Grech (Nicholas Agius 66)Coach: Andrea Vella AzerbaijanSadig Mammadzada, Musa Mammadov, Jeyhun Baghirzada, Allahverdi Rahimov (Elgun Arazli 85), Ahmad Tarverdiyev (Sabuhi Imamalievi 46), Dinamin Baghirov (Namig Mammadzada 73), Ilkin Jafarli (Teymur Mirzayev 46), Murad Mammadov (Elton Mikayilov 59), Sadig Mammadli (Mehdi Hashumov 73), Nihad Ahmadzada (Ashraf Alakbarli 46), Niyazi Osmanov (Farid Shahhuseyni 46)Coach: Elkhan Abdullayev Referee: Sabri Goctu