DENMARK         5
MALTA              1

As expected, the Malta Under-21 team found the going very tough in their away match against leaders Denmark who emerged 5-1 winners at the Aalborg Stadium to cement top spot in Group 8 with a maximum 15 points.

Two goals inside the opening four minutes left the Malta U-21s facing an uphill struggle against the strong Danes who were coming from a 3-2 away win over Ukraine on Friday.

From the 4-0 defeat to Finland in Turku a month ago, Malta U-21 coach Silvio Vella made four changes in his initial 4-1-4-1 line-up. Birkirkara's Matthew Guillaumier made his return to the side, replacing the absent Michele Sansone.

Balzan's Zachary Grech was deployed on the left flank with coach Vella also handing a full debut to Marcus Grima and Tarxien's Nevin Portelli in the latter's first ever call-up at U-21 level.

Malta endured a disappointing start, conceding two goals inside the first four minutes. Jacob Bruun Larsen broke the deadlock after just 40 seconds, goalkeeper Andreas Vella's attempt to stop the ball from crossing the line proving fruitless.

Three minutes later, a corner from the right was partially cleared by keeper Vella with the ball falling at the feet of captain Victor Nelsson who poked home from close in.

Denmark scored their third on 15 minutes. Another perfect move saw Herenveen forward Jens Odgaard dart into the box before finding the back of the net from close range.

The hosts increased their lead on 40 minutes. They were awarded a penalty by Andorra referee Luis Miguel Teixeira for a dubious handling infringement inside the box and Jacob Bruun Larsen converted from the spot, his second goal of the game.

Before the end of the half, Malta pulled one back with a terrific long-range shot from 35 metres out from Valletta midfielder Nicholas Pulis, with the ball sailing into the top corner and past Danish keeper Oliver Christensen.

In the second half, Denmark stayed in control, scoring the fifth on 67 minutes. A fine pass inside the box by substitute Madsen found Andreas Olsen who hit a powerful drive into the bottom corner.

Towards the end of the match, Guillaumier tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort was high.

 

DENMARK
Oliver Christensen, Andreas Poulsen (Mads Emil Madsen 46), Victor Nelsson (Japhet Sery 77), Jacob Sorensen, Andreas Olsen, Jens Odgaard, Jacob Bruun Larsen (Anders Dreyer 64), Mikkel Damsgaard (Morten Hjulmand 46), Nikolai Laursen (Nicolas Madsen 63), Magnus Andersen, Mads Rasmussen.

MALTA

Andreas Vella, Nicholas Pulis, Zachary Grech, Matthew Guillaumier, Kurt Shaw, Jean Borg, Marcus Grima (Jan Tanti 74), Jamie Zerafa, Zachary Brincat (Omar Elouni 92), Nevin Portelli (Aidan Friggieri 87), Myles Beerman (Jan Busuttil 74).

Referee: Luis Teixeira (Andorra).