Timely Muscat salvages point for Malta

A goal in the fourth minute of added time from Rowen Muscat rescued a draw for Malta in their UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 2 qualifier against Ukraine.

The captain's equaliser came at the end of a game which exploded into life with three goals in the opening 13 minutes, two of which were scored by Ukraine's Roman Bezus.

The FC Vorksla Poltava striker lobbed the visitors into a tenth-minute lead, looping the ball over hesitant goalkeeper Steve Sultana, yet Ukraine's joy was short-lived as Terence Vella ran on to Miguel Ciantar's pass and rounded Maxym Koval.

Bezus restored Ukraine's advantage when he avoided three challenges in the area and fired past Sultana, who kept his team in contention with second-half saves from Yevhen Shakhov and Illya Mikhaliov.

Ukraine were now in control and looked set to follow up their opening loss to Slovenia with three points but, with time ebbing away, Muscat profited from a long ball out from the back to lob in a goal which earned the hosts their fifth point from as many matches in the group.