National cup

National stadium
Spectators: 5149 (Terracing: 3862, Seating: 1184, VIP seats: 103) Malta's Antonio Navarro started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. John Lennon fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ter Stegen having to interfere. Ireland's Ter Stegen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daryl Mizzi in the 10th minute of play. 16 minutes into the match, Malta's Daryl Mizzi sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ter Stegen narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 17th minute Malta were awarded a corner. Daryl Mizzi went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Malta's corner Daryl Mizzi fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ter Stegen quite easily take care of the ball. In the 20th minute Malta were awarded a corner. Daryl Mizzi went to the cornerflag to take it. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daryl Mizzi in the 26th minute of play forced Ireland's goalkeeper Ter Stegen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lúcio da Silva could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 27th minute of the match, but Leonardo Da Vinci made a huge save. 29 minutes into the match, Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Antonio Navarro came free, but Ter Stegen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 32nd minute Antonio Navarro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ter Stegen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ter Stegen stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of John Lennon's shot from short distance in the 34th minute. Ter Stegen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daryl Mizzi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Leonardo Da Vinci showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lúcio da Silva in the 45th minute of the match. When Lúcio da Silva came up free with the goalie in the 45th minute, the Ireland fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lúcio da Silva couldn't finish the play. Lúcio da Silva who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 47thth minute tested the skills of Leonardo Da Vinci when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Lúcio da Silva made a great header on Ireland's corner, it was just that Malta's Leonardo Da Vinci managed to reach the ball for a save.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gordon Harkin was the one to do the kick off. Ter Stegen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Antonio Navarro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 61 minutes into the match, Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Daryl Mizzi came free, but Ter Stegen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Antonio Navarro scored 0-1 in the 63rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ter Stegen, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Ter Stegen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Antonio Navarro in the 68th minute of the match. The supporters of Malta booed when Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 70 match minutes in a wonderful position. Beccan Gillmour didn't get a good kick on the ball. Malta made a substitution. Giovanni Demicoli replaced Jean Carl Mintoff. The supporters of Malta booed when Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Beccan Gillmour didn't get a good kick on the ball. Malta's Miguel Caruana managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Arnold McDecland in the 74 minute of the game. 77 minutes into the match, Samuel Griffin had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ter Stegen. Ireland's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Samuel Griffin was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. The supporters of Malta booed when Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jerome Boateng didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ter Stegen acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 85th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Samuel Griffin. Leonardo Da Vinci showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gordon Harkin, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Ter Stegen made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Antonio Navarro sent off a good shot on target. Ter Stegen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Antonio Navarro in the 92nd minute of the match. Ireland's Ter Stegen proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 95th minute of the match, managed to save Ireland from getting a goal against them. In the 96th minute, Ebelegbulam Hajto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When the match was over Malta could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Ireland throughout the match.