The Malta Under-21 squad arrived back home in good spirits yesterday after a successful double header away from our shores, where they first held Moldova to a 0-0 draw and a few days later beat Latvia 2-1.
The goalless draw in Chisinau saw the Maltese creating the best chances of the match but in the end Silvio Vella’s team had to settle for a point in this opening qualifier from the 2017 UEFA Championship Group One campaign.
In Latvia, the team looked more composed and again played as a unit but the protagonist was goalkeeper Juergen Borg.
His late penalty save kept the teams level before Luke Montebello hit the winner. As the second half got underway Ryan Camenzuli had cancelled Latvia’s first-half opener.
“The penalty save came at a crucial time,” Borg told Times of Malta at the airport.
“To come back from a goal down at that stage would have been difficult. Keeping the scoreline one-all was very important.”
He described the dressing room atmosphere as “incredible” and said that “bringing home a result with the national team is the best feeling ever.”
After the penalty save, Malta’s next attack led to Montebello’s winning goal.
Assistant coach Noel Turner felt the boys had done well to keep hold of their nerves and could have made victory more pronounced as Latvia pushed more men in attack and the Maltese were finding gaps inside the opponents’ half.
“After our equaliser and Borg saved the penalty, Montebello put us in front and we could have won with even more goals,” he said.
“The coach was satisfied with the way we responded after falling one goal behind. They showed tremendous character.”
Malta U-21 are currently top of Group One with four points from two matches.
With eight matches still to come in the group, hopes are high that the previous record of five points in an entire campaign – established in the qualifiers to the championships of 1996, 2006 and 2013 – could be equalled and even bettered.
Turner has already shifted focus to Malta’s next double header, against group favourites Czech Republic and Montenegro, both away, in September.
“We all had good reason to celebrate after starting the group matches with a couple of outstanding results away from home,” Turner said.
“Four points from two matches is not bad but we now have to see that the momentum is carried forward to our next qualifiers in September.
“Czech Republic and Montenegro will not underestimate our team but we’ll be playing with renewed confidence so other good performances could follow. We’re also convinced that more positive results are possible.”