MALTA-2, NETHERLANDS-5
The Netherlands qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Under-17 Championship after defeating Malta 5-2 in an entertaining game at the Gozo Stadium.
The Dutch deserved their win but they were given a good run for their money by our brave team who not only scored their first goals of the tournament but produced some flowing attacks throughout the game.
Certainly, Malta's performance, especially in the second half, augurs well for their final match against Turkey on Thursday.
Malta were off to a difficult start, going behind after six minutes. Jamie Azzopardi, the Malta goalkeeper, blocked Steven Bergwijn's central shot but Jari Schuurman made no mistake from the rebound.
Schuurman was denied a second goal by the crossbar but the Dutch side doubled their lead ion 12 minutes thanks to Bergwijn who had time and space to aim his shot towards the corner after receiving a fine pass from Abdelhak Nouri.
The hosts should have narrowed the deficit but Kyrian Nwoko miscued his attempt after running clear to reach a long ball.
Malta were again unlucky not to score when Jake Grech's corner reached Aidan Friggieri whose low effort was cleared off the line.
At the other end, Nick Ghio cleared Schuurman's lob after the Dutch striker had anticipated the Malta goalkeeper.
On 27 minutes, the Netherlands increased their lead, Schuurman beating Azzopardi with a low shot.
There was another chance for Malta when Grech's cross from a left-wing corner caused havoc in the box and Friggieri's attempt was again blocked with a Dutch defender seemingly guiding the ball back to the goalkeeper but home calls for a free-kick were turnwd down by the referee.
Malta did open their scoring account in this tournament. The first goal came seven minutes from half-time when Friggieri's scorcher rattled the crossbar but Joseph Mbong scored from the rebound.
The second half was less than two minutes old when Schuurman's restored the Netherlands' three-goal buffer after more hesitant defending by Malta.
Nouri then hit the crossbar from the distance.
At the other end, Grech's free-kick was saved by Yanick van Osch. Malta plucked up courage.
Guillaumier powered forward through the middle but his well-struck effort was touched away for a corner by the Dutch goalkeeper.
Grech, one of Malta's best players yesterday, then squandered a golden chance, hitting wide with the only the goalkeeper to beat.
From the possibility of pulling to within one goal of the Dutch, Malta found themselves three down as the brilliant Bergwijn cut in from the left before hitting a fierce drive that soared past Azzopardi.
Malta refused to lie down. Myles Beerman,who had come on for Nwoko, caught the eye with his mazy dribbles.
Grech released Mbong who was thwarted by the Dutch goalkeeper. Van Osch produced another good save to stop Friggieri's curling drive.