National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Julian Behrami started the match with the kick off. Markel Laraku took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Miguel Piscopo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lawrence Sammut made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Julian Behrami in the 9th minute of play. The supporters of U21 Malta booed when U21 Albania was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Përparim Bajraktari didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Xhevat Qeraxhiu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Markel Laraku made a fantastic save in the 20th minute, when Charles Teuma Castelletti sent off a good shot on target. Markel Laraku came out of the goal in the 23rd minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Malta's Charles Teuma Castelletti. But to his dismay, Charles Teuma Castelletti quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Markel Laraku made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Charles Teuma Castelletti sent off a good shot on target. 29 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Albania's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Jake Debono was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Malta's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that Colin Talbot got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Markel Laraku quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Markel Laraku made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Charles Teuma Castelletti in the 39th minute of play. Bajram Olldashi kicked well hit freekick during the 43rd minute of the match. Markel Laraku made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Charles Teuma Castelletti in the 44th minute of play. In the 45th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Albania's goalkeeper Markel Laraku, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Charles Teuma Castelletti to make the kick off. The supporters of U21 Albania booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 50 match minutes in a wonderful position. Charles Teuma Castelletti didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Charles Teuma Castelletti in the 54th minute of play forced U21 Albania's goalkeeper Markel Laraku to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Charles Teuma Castelletti in the 56th minute of play forced U21 Albania's goalkeeper Markel Laraku to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of U21 Albania booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 58 match minutes in a wonderful position. Christian Bale didn't get a good kick on the ball. Christian Bale hit a great freekick 59 minutes into the match. Lawrence Sammut made a fantastic save in the 65th minute, when Minir Noli sent off a good shot on target. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Charles Teuma Castelletti in the 66th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Markel Laraku saved U21 Albania from getting behind. Julian Behrami's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Lawrence Sammut firmly grabbed it by the left post. U21 Malta's Zlatko Zahovič was substituted for Charles Teuma Castelletti. U21 Malta's Richard Pavia was substituted for Jake Debono. U21 Albania's Ndue Kurti was substituted for Lisian Boja. U21 Albania's attentive Alesandro Nesta managed to snatch the ball when Christian Bale made a throw-in in the 73rd minute of the game. Christian Bale made in the 76th minute of the game a quick throw-in and James Buttigieg immediately put the ball in play. In the 78th match minute, U21 Malta was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zlatko Zahovič to maneuver through the defense. Markel Laraku didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Zlatko Zahovič went, in the 82nd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. 87 minutes into the game, Minir Noli cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Lawrence Sammut was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. U21 Albania's Markel Laraku played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zlatko Zahovič in the 93rd minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. U21 Malta had won after a very even match.