Northern Ireland’s Under-21s swept aside Malta in a Euro qualifier this evening.
Two goals from Jack Patterson (main image) and goals apiece from Shea Kearney and Bayley McCann helped Tommy Wright’s side to a comfortable victory.
Northern Ireland were always in control in the U21 Euro 2027 qualifier at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’Qali.
The boys in green and white, who defeated the Maltese 2-0 at home last October in the reverse fixture, had the first chance of the game, with Patterson steering an effort wide.
Then Malta’s Lucas Caruana had a chance but he failed to trouble Northern Ireland goalkeeper Stephen McMullan.
McCann had a free-kick blocked and then Sam Inwood also had an attempt thwarted by the Maltese defence.
Josh Briggs got on the end of a Cole Brannigan delivery but his effort was off target. Inwood then met a Brannigan corner, however again his header drifted wide.
On 31 minutes Northern Ireland’s pressure told. Eoin Kenny found Kearney and he produced a fine finish to make it 1-0.
Wright’s side continued to press and U21s captain Makenzie Kirk drilled an effort wide.
In the 43rd minute Northern Ireland doubled their lead. Brannigan crossed to Patterson and the midfielder swept the ball home.
The visitors kept the pressure on and had the first chance of the second half, with Brannigan having an attempt on goal. Then Kenny tried his luck.
Malta huffed and puffed. Shaisen Attard’s delivery from a corner was off target.
Brannigan had a shot blocked before Malta attacker Kaiden Fenech let fly, but his strike failed to trouble McMullan.
James Simpson was off target with an attempt before Wright’s side went three up. Patterson got his second of the game when he got on the end of a Brannigan corner and steered the ball into the net on 63 minutes.
Kenny then met a Patterson corner, however he missed the target.
But it was not long before Northern Ireland scored again. This time Kenny provided the assist and McCann applied the finish to make it 4-0.
The visitors continued to push forward. Conor Barr had a shot blocked before substitute Devlan Moses had an effort on goal. And in added time Moses had a shot blocked.
The win sees the U21s maintain third place in Group F in the 2025-27 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying group stage. This evening’s victory means they have 13 points after winning four, drawing one and losing three in their eight group games to date.
Germany top the group with 21 points from eight matches. Greece also have 21 points, however the Germans have a better goal difference. Germany defeated Latvia 4-0 away and Greece defeated Georgia 3-0 away earlier today.
Northern Ireland’s U21s will complete their qualification campaign with home games against Georgia next Thursday (1 October) and Greece on Tuesday 6 October.
The Euro qualifier against the Georgians, who sit fourth in the Group F table with nine points from eight games, is being staged at Ballymena Showgrounds, while Mourneview Park in Lurgan is the venue for the game against the high flying Greeks.
Malta: Karl Sargent, Nathan Cross, Mattias Ellul, Benjamin Hili, Jake Vassallo (captain), Lucas Caruana, Shaisen Attard, Andrew Borg, Isaiah Chukunyere, Brooklyn Borg, Kaiden Fenech.
Substitutes: (used) Trezeguet Zammit, Kai Bartolo, Alfie Bridgman, Bjorn Buhaglar, Daniel Letherby; (unused) Liam Frendo (GK), Deacon Abela, Matteo Gambin, Jake Micallef.
Northern Ireland: Stephen McMullan, Shea Kearney, Conor Barr, Samuel Inwood, Josh Briggs, Jack Patterson, Cole Brannigan, James Simpson, Makenzie Kirk (captain), Eoin Kenny, Bayley McCann.
Substitutes: (used) Conor Haughey, Callum Burnside, Ryan Donnelly, Devlan Moses, Kalum Thompson; (unused) Fraser Barnsley (GK), Joshua Gracey (GK), Matthew Orr, Paul McGovern.
Action from Malta
