Under 21: Malta-Poland 1-5

Malta: Y. Cini, M. Tabone, Z. Muscat, L. Micallef (G. Mackay), S. Pisani, S. Borg, C. Borg, B. Muscat (B. Farrugia), R. Camenzuli (Y. Pisani), R. Scicluna, D. Zerafa.

Poland: J. Szumski, R. Janicki, D. Dziwniel, H. Golla, M. Chrapek, P. Zielinski, D. Furman (D. Dabrowski), A. Milik (P. Parzyszek), P. Wszolek, B. Bereszyinsk, B. Pawlowski (M. Lewandowski).

Referee: J. Jaervinen (Finland)

Asst refs: M. Hanninen, J. Turunen.

4th official: V. Nevalainen.

Scorers: A. Milik 28, 43, 65, M. Chrapek 55, B. Pawlowski 59, S. Pisani (90 pen).

Yellow cards: P. Zielinski

A dominant Polish side proved too strong for a weak Malta side yesterday evening, emerging comfortable winners to take the lead at the top of Group 7.

They now have 12 points from six matches and are followed by Turkey on 10 from five games and Greece with nine points from four matches.

It was a one-sided match right from the start as Malta proved to be no match for the stronger and superior Poles.

Among their starting line-up, Poland included Pawel Wszolek, who plays for Serie A side Sampdoria.

Poland quickly took the initiative and by the 15th minute, they already had four efforts directed at our goal.

By the end of the first 45 minutes, they scored just two goals although Wszolek, not to mention Furman, Golla  and Zielinski were certainly among the best players on show and constituted a big threat to the Malta defence whenever they had the ball at their feet.

The Maltese boys were forced to defend for most of the time, clearing the ball wildly out of their area, giving it back to their opponents so easily.

The Maltese only went in the Polish area through set pieces, but these were handled with ease by the Polish defence.

In the second half, the match remained more or less on the same pattern with the Poles in command of midfield as the Maltese seemed only interested in crowding their area to try to limit the danger.

There was not a single decent attack by the Maltese in the second half, so much so that the Polish goalie was never brought into action before he had to gather the ball from the net after being beaten by an added time Pisani penalty.

Poland’s first threat arrived on seven minutes. After a fine run by Wszolek, the ball was passed to Furman whose shot, however, went over.

Four minutes later, it was Milik who flicked a cross by Bereszyinsk wide of Cini’s post. Moments later, it was Furman who tried his luck from outside the area, but the shot went wide.

The Poles insisted and Wszolek was through in the area, but Cini managed to block his effort.

Malta managed a 21st minute effort from Ryan Scicluna but it was well wide of the target. Immediately after, it was Cini who had to save a Milik header after a Wszolek cross.

Poland opened the scoring on the 28th minute. From a corner by Zielinski, the ball was somehow kicked out by a Malta defender, but only on Milik’s left foot to score with a powerful grounder.

In the 35th minute, Poland went close to scoring again. A Milik header was partially saved by Cini. From the rebound, Golla’s shot hit the crossbar and was cleared.

Milik was again on target scoring the second Polish goal on the 43rd minute. From a Golla cross, he headed beautifully into the net.

Moments later, Cini saved Malta’s fort off a Zielinski close range effort.

In the 55th minute it was 3-0. From a perfect cross by Bereszyinsk, it was the completely unmarked Chrapek who headed the ball past Cini.

And it was no surprise that it became 4-0 just four minutes later when after a melee in the Malta area, Pawlowski’s shot went in between Cini’s legs.

There was no stopping the Poles as they added a fifth goal on the 65th minute. And it was again Milik who netted his third goal after receiving a perfect pass from Chrapek.

Four minutes from the end, Cini saved Malta further blushes as the blocked a close range effort from Zielinski.

A minute later, off a Dziwniel cross, bustitute Parzyszek hit wide when well placed.

Malta earned a little consolation in added time when Zach Muscat was floored in the area by Bereszyinsk. The referee had no doubt as he pointed to the penalty spot. Steve Pisani converted. It was the final shot of the match.