Malta 0
Azerbaijan 0
A group of untried players blended with a few more experienced counterparts yesterday to herald a new era for the Under-21 national team with a goalless draw against Azerbaijan in a friendly international in Corradino.
The new ‘kids on the block’, led by coach Silvio Vella, produced a committed performance that made the Azeri visitors struggle at times even though the encounter ended without goals scored.
Although most of the leading personnel from the last edition of the U-21 squad are no longer in the frame (due to age restrictions), Vella still succeeded in fielding a team that featured a couple of players with some experience from the BOV Premier League.
However, of the starting formation, only Birkirkara’s Ryan Ca-menzuli, Pieta’s Cain Attard and Valletta trio Yenz Cini, Luke Montebello and Llywelyn Cremona can be described as ‘veterans’.
Vella opted for a 4-1-4-1 module with Montebello supported from the flanks by Brandon Muscat and skipper Camenzuli.
Balzan defender Samir Arab was deployed alongside Daniel Zerafa in central defence while Cremona was detailed by Vella to patrol the lines in front of the back four.
The first good chance to score came Malta’s way just past the 15-minute mark.
A superb pass by Johann Bezzina from the halfway line set up Montebello who was blocked at the last minute by Azad Karimov when our striker was about to shoot.
Malta easily weathered Azerbaijan’s pressure in those opening exchanges.
Vella’s boys also had an opportunity to forge ahead following a cohesive action started by Montebello. He crossed perfectly for the unmarked Camenzuli who headed the ball down into the path of Bezzina whose fierce shot ricocheted off goalkeeper Shakh-rydin Magomedaliev.
A heartening aspect in Malta’s approach at that juncture was the players’ willingness to pass the ball and pour forward in numbers each time they retrieved possession.
This was evident on 28 minutes when Cremona floated an inviting ball to Montebello whose first-time effort flew over the bar.
Azerbaijan infused some much-needed urgency into their game in the latter stages of the first half and seven minutes from the break Magsad Isayev did well to release Azer Isayev whose flick hit the bar.
Cini then distinguished himself with a fine save off a Samir Masimov header before holding out Bayram Budagov’s shot from the rebound.
Azerbaijan intensified their attacking endeavours after the break but rarely tested the Maltese goalkeeper. On 64 minutes, Isayev’s delivery from the right sailed invitingly towards Masimov but his header finished wide.
Malta’s travails to get their game off the ground after the break was in stark contrast with their brisk movement in the first half.
Masimov showed some neat footwork on 70 minutes as he swept past substitute keeper Jurgen Borg before passing to the well-positioned Salahli. However, Cain Attard got behind his Azeri opponent to clear off the line and deny the visitors from goal.
Malta served up a reminder of their counter-attacking threat ten minutes from time when they produced another cohesive move that saw substitute Terence Agius and Camenzuli combining perfectly together to release Montebello but the latter’s attempt at goal from inside the box fell off target.
Malta
Y. Cini (46 J. Borg), E. Briffa, S. Arab, D. Zerafa (64 M. Johnson), R. Camenzuli, L. Montebello (89 R. Spiteri), J. Bezzina (73 T. Agius), B. Muscat (90 A. Borg), K. Cesare, L. Cremona, C. Attard.
Azerbaijan
S. Magomedaliev, D. Topcu, A. Karimov (85 J. Hajiyev), E. Badalov, T. Ilter, N. Alaskarov, B. Budagov (46 V. Abdullayev), M. Isayev, A. Salahli, S. Masimov (80 E. Jamalov), D. Akdag (80 F. Bayramov).
Referee: Zbynek Proske (Czech Rep.).