Malta suffered a humiliating 1-7 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic on Friday, in a friendly international played in Austria.

This was the first friendly for Malta in this end of season training camp with the second clash on Tuesday against Greece. The Czechs used this friendly in preparation for their forthcoming participation in the Euro 2024 and surely had some promising indications, even though the opponents in the Germany showdown will be different.

For Malta a good first half display and a well taken goal, but the overall defensive performance especially in the second half left much to be desired.

The Czechs opened their account after six minutes when Fiorentina player Barak scored from the penalty spot. Malta controlled well and had some good patches but suffered a second goal just before the break with a Chytil goal who beat Bonello on the first post.

On the resumption Czechia increased their tempo and the Malta defence was at sixes and sevens at times. Two minutes into the second Jarusek scored a very good goal to make it 3-0 and on 58 minutes Chytil scored his second of the game when he headed home from close range.

Sixty seconds later some glory for malta who scored a good goal when Paul Mbong beat the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper and scored with a low shot.

Minutes later Paul Mbong was again on the mark but his goal was ruled offside. On 71 minutes a Jarusek shot deceived Bonello who could only partially save, with the ball hitting the upright and Lingr was on hand to tap the ball home.

Six minutes from time Malta was down to ten when Joseph Mbong was sent off and the Czechs took advantage addind two further goals. On 86 minutes Jarusek scored his second of the game when he scored with a low drive from the left and with sixty seconds left Cerny scored the best of the lot when he beat Bonello from the edge of the area.

File photo