MALTA-0,CZECH REPUBLIC-7

With their morale already at a low ebb due the on-going match-fixing probe into their 1-0 defeat to Montenegro last week, the Malta U-21 team suffered another blow this evening after going down to a 7-0 defeat against the Czech Republic.

Stopping the Czechs, the leaders of Group One, was always going to be an arduous task for the Maltese boys and the pressure and anxiety caused by the police investigation made their job a lot more difficult as Silvio Vella's team was low on confidence.

Four goals in the first half shattered Malta's hopes of gaining a respectable result as the superior Czechs proved two strong on the day to consolidate their position at the top of the standings, five points clear of Montenegro and Belgium.

The game was as good as over in the opening 45 minutes as the Czechs surged into a four-goal lead.

They were awarded a penalty after 18 minutes after Kyle Cesare was deemed to have tripped Tomas Soucek in the box. Patrick Schick scored from the spot.
Ales Cermal doubled their lead with a curling shot after pouncing on a half-clearance and Vaclav Cerny, who plays for Ajax, made it 3-0 after racing past Emanuel Briffa on the right.

Johann Bezzina had Malta's best chance but his close-range drive was blocked by the Czech goalkeeper.

Three minutes from half-time, Schick increased the Czechs' lead after his shot took a deflection.

Malta tried to make a reaction when the second half got underway. Ryan Camenzuli's corner was kept out5 by Lukas Zima and successive efforts from Joseph Mbong and Daniel Zerafa.

But the Czechs made it 5-0 when Milan Havel's strong drive beat Calleja Cremona. Five became six 15 minutes from time when Cermak scored his second goal with a well-taken drive from inside the box.

Despite being six goals ahead, the Czechs kept going. They were on a mission to score as many goals as possible and, a minute from time, Schick made it a hat-trick when he dashed past two defenders and lifted the ball over Calleja Cremona.