Malta U15 end UEFA Development Tournament with narrow defeat to Latvia

UEFA UNDER-15 DEVELOPMENT TOURNAMENT
26.10.2026, Centenary Stadium

MALTA…1
LATVIA…3
(HT 1-3)

11’ Jekabs Dosbergs (LVA), 32’ Zackary Diagne (OG), 33’ Artemijs Izotovs (LVA), 45’ Noah Muscat (MLT)

The Malta Under-15 National Team fell to a 3-1 defeat against Latvia on Monday morning in a tight encounter to conclude Malta’s UEFA Development Tournament campaign, with all four goals being scored in the first half.

The match started very even, with both teams having periods of possession.

10 minutes into the game, Malta had their first attempt on target, when after some excellent build-up, Zackary Diagne received the ball at the edge of the penalty area, yet his strike was saved by Gjebs Mihailovs. Only seconds later, Latvia took the lead. From the counter, Jekabs Dosbergs made a darting run down the left, before hitting a low shot that sailed into the net.

Malta looked to issue a response to the early setback. In the 29th minute, they came very close to getting the equaliser, when a free-kick from Beppe Aquilina Arena was swung into the penalty area, finding Jaan Caruana, whose header went just over the bar.

Latvia did have opportunities of their own though, and 31 minutes into the encounter they broke quickly, with Artemijs Izotovs hitting a curling effort from range, yet his strike was saved by Mardeo Zammit. Latvia did get their second goal from the resulting corner, as the ball was flung into the penalty area, and the wind changed the director of the ball, and Diagne’s attempt at clearing it away led to it going into the net.

Latvia got their third just moments later, when a shot was miskicked, yet it fell to Izotovs, who made no mistake from inside the penalty area.

Malta tried to push to get a goal to get them back in the game. In the 43rd minute, some nice build-up play led to the ball falling to Noah Muscat, who skipped past a couple of challenges, but could only hit the side netting with his strike.

Muscat would get his goal on the second try though, as after Alex Zammit fed him the ball down the left, the Maltese winger hit a powerful low show that nestled into the net, making it 3-1 and rewarding the home side for their efforts.

Malta started the second half on the front foot, looking to continue in the same way they finished the first half. Substitute Jmii Zammit came close to getting another goal for Malta early in the half with a sweet strike that went just wide.

Latvia remained dangerous though, and in the 62nd minute, Dosbergs was close to getting his second and Latvia’s fourth, hitting the bar with a powerful shot.

Maxim Gromov had a good shot on goal in the 69th minute, taking the ball from midfield, before hitting a powerful strike that went wide of the goal.

Latvia had two opportunities to put the game to bed in the 72nd minute. Patriks Pidhacnijs had a powerful shot saved by Ryan James Zammit, before Kaspars Puzanovs had a lobbed effort hit the woodwork just moments later.

Malta tried to push forward in search of a goal to get them back in it, but they could not break down a stubborn Latvian defence, and the match ended 3-1 to the visitors.

MALTA
1 Mardeo Zammit (GK) (12 Ryan James Zammit, 46’), 2 Javier James (14 Zac Baldacchino Orland, 65’), 3 Alex Zammit (16 Matthew Hyzler, 79’), 4 Elias Abdilla (C), 15 Jaan Caruana, 6 Zackary Diagne (8 Nedved Bonello, 85’), 7 Shaylon Lanzon (19 Jean Zammit, 46’), 18 Edward Schembri (20 Jmii Zammit, 46’), 9 Maxim Gromov, 10 Beppe Aquilina Arena (13 Alexander Abela, 65’), 11 Noah Muscat
Coach: Silvio Vella

LATVIA
1 Gjebs Mihailovs (GK) (C), 3 Martins Kornejevs, 18 Andrejs Frolovs (19 Aleksandrs Dudorovs, 46’), 5 Roberts Zeltins, 21 Jekabs Dosbergs, 4 Maijs Andrejs Dmitrijevs, 10 Ernests Leo Garosa (24 Nikita Kolosovs, 54’), 8 Egerts Brigmanis, 6 Raiens Prizevaits (7 Patriks Pidhacnijs, 54’), 15 Dans Van Engelands (14 Levs Pavlovs, 54’), 9 Artemijs Izotovs (16 Kaspars Puzanovs, 54’)
Coach: Janis Seglins

Referee: Mark Azzopardi