Late Cyprus goal denies Malta

A late Cyprus goal prevented Malta's U-19 team from wrapping up their commitments in the European Championship qualifying round with a victory as the clash between the group minnows finished one-all at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

The Maltese youngsters looked well on their way to grab maximum points from their final Group 10 match when Clifford Gauci put them ahead after 64 minutes. But the Cypriots gained a share of the spoils when, with only two minutes remaining, substitute Markos Michail guided the ball past Malta goalkeeper Daniel Balzan.

The result left Malta and Cyprus level on one point in the final standings but Silvio Vella's boys avoided bottom spot, edging their rivals on goal difference.

Top spot in the group was decided in yesterday's other match between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, the leading duo who have qualified to the Elite Round.

It was the Dutch who preserved their perfect record and secured top spot after a 1-0 win over the Czechs at the Hibs Ground.

Malta: D. Balzan, I. Grech, K. Fedele, E. Cauchi, Y. Camilleri, S. Pisani, L. Micallef ('82 W. Camilleri), T. Caruana, C. Gauci ('90 C. Borg), Q. Bregman, M. Gauci.

Final standings: Netherlands 9; Czech Republic 6; Malta, Cyprus 1.