Malta 0
Italy ‘B’ 5
Zaza 27; Brosco 41; Iemmello 59; Giandonato 84; Improta 86;
A match against an Italian side, at any level, is always a useful test for Maltese players.
Yesterday’s meeting between Malta U-21 team and the Italy U-21 ‘B’ selection represented a good opportunity for Ray Farrugia’s charges to measure themselves against some quality players, especially in view of the fact that this is a period of transition for our boys after the end of the last Euro U-21 qualifying campaign.
The friendly served its purpose as the level of the Italian team, as was to be expected, was high, actually too high for our team who slipped to a 5-0 defeat.
Malta U-21, some of whom have yet to turn 19, had some good moments in the first half but they were completely outplayed in a one-sided second half.
Massimo Piscedda, the Italy U-21 B coach, selected a host of players on loan with Serie B teams from top-flight clubs.
These included goalkeeper Alessandro Iacobucci, currently playing for Spezia on loan from Parma, Ternana’s Riccardo Brosco, on loan from Pescara, and the highly-rated Ascoli forward Simone Zaza, who is on the books of Sampdoria.
Farrugia opted for 4-2-3-1 with Terence Vella leading the forward line in front of midfield trio Ayrton Azzopardi, Bjorn Kristensen and Steve Pisani.
The Maltese boys held their own in the opening stages but Farrugia had to make his first substitution after 15 minutes as Owen Bugeja suffered an injury. Luca Martinelli replaced the Floriana defender with Zach Muscat moving into the centre of defence.
As the minutes rolled by, Italy began to pose more problems to the Malta defence. They went close when Pucciarelli released Giorgio Capece who let fly a venomous drive that rattled the bar and landed in the goalmouth. Malta’s partial clearance fell to Alessandro De Vitis but his effort was cleared away by Muscat.
Malta fluffed a good chance when, in a counter-attack, Kristensen guided a through-pass to Vella but he took a touch too many and was eventually closed down by the Azzurrini defence.
Italy broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when Zaza’s low strike from outside the box had the better of Steve Sultana.
Close to the half-hour mark, Vella did well to slip past his marker but his effort sailed into the hands of Iacobucci.
A goal down, Malta mounted a brief spell of pressure but their hopes suffered a setback when, four minutes from half-time, Italy increased their advantage.
Daniele Baselli’s free-kick soared above a host of ball-watching Malta players and towards the unmarked Brosco who headed home.
Both coaches made several changes at half-time with Farrugia introducing goalkeeper Daniel Balzan, Matthew Gauci and Lydon Micallef.
Eight minutes into the game, Pettinari drifted into the box before squaring to the unmarked Pietro Iemmello, a second-half substitute, but the latter’s grounder was repelled by Zach Muscat.
Balzan got a hand to Pucciarelli’s drive as Italy, driven on by their substitutes, heaped the pressure on the Maltese.
Italy put the game to bed when, a minute short of the hour, Iemmello’s shot from took a deflection and flew past Balzan.
With Malta devoid of flair and inspiration, Italy stayed in control.
With 17 minutes remaining, Pucciarelli hit the crossbar after being set up by Iemmello.
When Malta were awarded a free-kick after Daren Falzon was felled by Biagio Meccariello, home spirits rose but the Naxxar forward’s effort hit the side-netting.
Italy threatened again when Riccardo Improta exchanged passes with Iemmello but his drive skimmed the post.
At the other end, Rowen Muscat’s humdinger flew just wide.
Six minutes from time, Italy made it 4-0 from a free-kick by Manuel Giandonato, playing on loan with Vicenza from Juventus.
Things got worse for Malta when Improta darted into the box and beat Balzan with a low shot.
Malta
S. Sultana, R. Camenzuli, Z. Muscat, O. Bugeja, R. Muscat, S. Pisani, T. Vella, A. Azzopardi, Y. Camilleri, C. Borg, B. Kristensen.
Subs used: L. Martinelli, D. Balzan, L. Micallef, M. Gauci, D. Falzon, J. Bezzina.
Italy
A. Iacobucci, L. Ghiringhelli, A. De Vito, G. Capece, R. Brosco, D. Rosania, M. Pucciarelli, D. Baselli, S. Zaza, A. De Vitis, S. Pettinari.
Subs used: A. Berardi, B. Meccarriello, F. Minarini, M. Giandonato, P. Iemmello, De Vitis.
Referee: C. Nicolaides (Cyprus).