Malta 1
Pisani 90 pen
Poland 5
Milik 28, 43, 66, Chrapek 55; Pawlowski 60
Malta’s woes in the 2015 UEFA U-21 Championship qualifying trek show no signs of abating as Ray Farrugia’s team succumbed to a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Poland, yesterday.
A first-half double from Augsburg striker Arkadiusz Milik, who went on to score a hat-trick, put paid to Maltese hopes of breaking their duck in a tough group, laying the platform for a resounding victory for group leaders Poland.
Malta’s most encouraging performance in an otherwise dismal campaign had come in their opening qualifier away at Poland who needed two late goals to claim the three points back in June.
There was no hint of a repeat of that resolute showing yesterday as the hosts were outclassed. Farrugia’s boys were never in the game as they lacked the courage and technical skills to stem the waves of Polish attacks with captain Zach Muscat the only player to emerge with any credit from this one-sided game.
One quality that Farrugia’s U-21 sides have never lacked is fighting spirit but this team looks desperately short of self-belief.
This was only their second home outing but they took to the field still carrying the scars of three heavy defeats in their last three outings.
Having indicated that Balzan wing-back Godwin McKay would make his debut, Farrugia changed his mind on the eve of the game. He awarded a starting role to Brandon Muscat, of Hibernians, while Balzan forward Lydon Micallef deputised for the injured Jean Paul Farrugia.
Pavel Wszolek, who featured for Sampdoria in their 2-1 Serie A defeat to Fiorentina last weekend, caught the eye with some clever runs early on.
Poland went close to taking the lead on nine minutes. Bartosz Bereszyinsk cut in from the right before crossing low where Milik produced a back-heeled flick that rolled wide.
The visitors continued to show the better ideas. Wszolek wriggled his way into the box but his grounder was repelled by goalkeeper Yenz Cini.
The stadium was virtually deserted but the Polish players must have felt at home as they received constant encouragement from some 80 boisterous fans who probably outnumbered the home support.
Malta weathered the early pressure but were finding it hard to venture out of their half.
Poland took a deserved lead on 28 minutes. Piotr Zielinski’s corner caused panic in the box as the ball broke to Milik who rammed home from a central position.
Malta’s early struggles to cope with the fast-moving Poles will have done little to lift their fragile confidence. This was evident when Daniel Zerafa, under no pressure outside the Malta box, elected to hoof the ball upfield after the home defence had cleared a cross.
Three minutes past the half-hour, Bartolomiej Pawlowski managed to weave his way into the box but his cross-shot was blocked by Matthew Tabone.
A rising drive by Hojciech Golla cannoned off the crossbar as Poland continued to run the show.
Malta managed to win their first corner seven minutes from half-time when Steve Pisani’s set-piece cross was headed away by a Polish defender.
Two minutes from half-time, Poland struck again. Golla was the architect as his run down the right unsettled the home defence and his cross was met by Milik whose header gave Cini no chance.
Moments later, the Valletta goalkeeper denied Poland a third goal when pawing away a dangerous shot from Zielinski.
Four minutes into the second half, Michal Chrapek skied his shot over the bar after creating space in the Maltese penalty area.
Poland increased their advantage on 55 minutes. Bereszyinsk’s incursion down the right went unchecked by the home defence and his cross towards the far post was headed in by Chrapek who was completely unmarked.
Fears of another drubbing for Malta now loomed large.
Malta’s woes increased on the hour when Pawlowski’s low strike went through Cini’s legs following a melee in the penalty area.
Six minutes later, the score became 5-0 when Chrapek’s floated through-ball opened up the Maltese defence and Milik drove past Cini from routine distance.
With Malta out for the count, Poland pushed for more. Cini stopped an effort from Zielinski.
A header by Piotr Parzyszek was deflected away for a corner before Cini prevented a sixth goal for Poland with a good save from Zielinski’s effort.
In stoppage time, Malta were awarded a penalty after the never-say-die Muscat was brought down by Bereszyinsk inside the box.
Pisani converted from the spot.
Malta: Y. Cini, M. Tabone, Z. Muscat, L. Micallef (56 G. McKay), S. Pisani, S. Borg, C. Borg, B. Muscat (69 B. Farrugia), R. Camenzuli (56 J. Pisani), R. Scicluna, D. Zerafa.
Poland: J. Szumski, R. Janicki, D. Dziwniel, H. Golla, M. Chrapek, P. Zielinski, D. Furman (75 D. Dabrowski), A. Milik (69 P. Parzyszek), P. Wszolek, B. Bereszyinsk, B. Pawlowski (64 M. Lewandowski).
Referee: Jari Jaervinen (Finland).