Malta suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic yesterday in a friendly match in Austria.

It was an easy victory for the Czechs who dominated proceedings from start to finish rarely giving the Maltese the chance to move forward in the opposing half.

When Malta did advance once – near the end – not even the experienced and veteran striker Michael Mifsud made the most of a clear chance of a goal as he hit wide with only the goalie to beat.

This was a performance which has to be forgotten quickly, if our players are to find better form for next Tuesday’s clash against Austria.

Pietro Ghedin started the match with two debutants – England based midfielder Luke Gambin and flank defender by Cain Attard.

This proved to be a very difficult match for Malta who never lived in the same street as their opponents.

In fact, the Czechs were a vastly superior side, dominating from start to finish and scoring goals at will.

In the first half, the Maltese were pressed into their own half for very long stretches. They were forced to stay in their own half and it was no surprise that the Czechs led 3-0 after 45 minutes.

Ghedin’s boys lacked ideas. Even when they won some balls, they quickly lost possession; so much so, that Czech goalie Cech did not even have an easy shot or cross to handle.

In the second half, despite the several changes at both ends, the Czechs remained firmly on top clearly displaying the big gap between the two teams.

Three other goals were suffered, but veteran Mifsud even contrived to miss the one and only chance which came our way!

The Czechs dominated from the start and on 14 minutes, it was Agius who was instrumental in clearing a dangerous Sural cross. But a minute later, it was Jaroslav Plasil who opened the scoring with a fine effort from outside the area that beat Bonello all ends up, although there seemed to have been a deviation by a Maltese player.

Seven minutes later, it was 2-0 as Limbersky advanced to set Krejcl on the left and the latter’s cross was flicked into the Malta net by Milan Skoda.

Krejcl then advanced into the Malta area in the 32^nd minute. His cross went to Plasil whose shot was brilliantly turned to corner by goalie Bonello.

The third goal arrived in the 41^st minute. From a Plasil cross, the Maltese defence failed to clear the ball and Roman Hubnik, completely unmarked, had no difficulty to plant the ball into the net.

Before the half time whistle, Limbersky went close to a fourth goal with a shot that went just wide after a good move between Skoda and Sural.

At the start of the second half, Bonello was called upon to save a low shot from Selassie.

And on the hour, Bonello also had to save a close range header from Lafata and a dangerous shot from Kaderabek.

David Lafata scored the fourth goal in the 73rd minute when from a corner, his header was partially saved by Bonello, but scored the rebound.

The score became 5-0 nine minutes from the end when Tomas Necid had no difficulty to beat Bonello from close range.

Four minutes from the end, in Malta’s only real attack, it was Rowen Muscat who advanced through the middle and set veteran striker Mifsud who, face to face with the goalie, hit wide.

The final goal arrived in added time, Patrik Schick concluded into the net following a cornerkick action.

Malta: Henry Bonello (Justin Haber), Andrei Agius, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Zach Muscat, Cain Attard (R. Camilleri), Clayton Failla, Luke Gambin (L. Cremona), Gareth Sciberras (S. Pisani), Roderick Briffa (R. Muscat), Bjorn Kristensen (P. Fenech), Alfred Effiong (M. Mifsud).

Scorers: Plasil, 15, Skoda 22, Hubnik 41, Lafata 73, Necid 81, Schick 90