Malta 3

Andorra 1

Malta scored three times in the second half to stretch its positive streak to two matches and consolidate the second place in the group. It was no easy task for the Maltese who were yesterday managed by Davide Mazzotta as coach Devis Mangia was suspended.

It was an uphill struggle as Malta suffered a goal just at the start of the match, a goal that left its mark on the Maltese who took some to settle down, even though having as much as 75 percent possession of the ball in the first 30 minutes of the game.

However a two-goal burst in the space of three minutes early in the second half completely turned the tide in Malta’s favour. The boys in red were always in control with Andorra never giving the impression they can save the match, and in stoppage time Malta sealed the issue with a third goal for a more than deserved victory.

Apart from Mangia, Malta had central defender Steve Borg missing due to suspension, with Malta’s back three being Kurt Shaw, Karl Micallef and captain Andrei Agius, aided on the flanks by Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Mbong.

Matthew Guillaumier and Teddy Teuma were the two central midfielders, with Degabriele and Gambin supporting our main striker Luke Montebello. After two minutes play Andorra took the lead when a Cervos freekick was partially blocked by the Malta defence with the ball remaining dangerously in the penalty area for Marc Rebes to fire home.

After this shock the Maltese had some anxious moments but still kept possession of the ball and ventured forward going near on 13 minutes when Mbong crossed from the right towards Montebello whose shot on the turn went over the crossbar.

Malta continued to attack and went close on 29 minutes when a Teddy Teuma drive hit the upper part of the crossbar. On 35 minutes Ryan Camenzuli made his way on the left but was denied by goalkeeper Gomes and minutes later a Luke Montebello header went slightly over the bar.

On the resumption the Maltese continued where they left in the first half and were rewarded after 55 minutes when a Teddy Teuma was met by Andorra defender Emil Garcia who fired incredibly into his own net in an attempt to reach the ball before Andrei Agius.

This was the tonic Malta wanted as three minutes later Malta took a deserved lead when Gambin, who started the run from a dubious offside position floated a good cross towards Jurgen Degabriele who headed beautifully home past a helpless Gomes.

The Maltese were now in the driving seat as Andorra failed to recover from this double blow. Malta conceded some meters as Andorra took some initiative to save the match, but Bonello was never in danger and the Maltese had some good openings that should have been used better.

However deep in stoppage time Malta sealed the issue when substitute Jake Grech tested Gomes with a low drive and another substitute Shawn Dimech fired home the rebound from close range.

 

 

Malta: H. Bonello, R. Camenzuli, K. Micallef, A. Agius, M. Guillaumier (S. Pisani 84’), J. Mbong, L. Montebello (A. Satariano 76’), K. Shaw, T. Teuma, J. Degabriele (J. Grech 89’), L. Gambin (S. Dimech 89’).

ANDORRA : J. Gomes, C. Martinez (V. Bernat 77’), A. Alavedra, M. Rebes (L. Blanco 77’), E. Garcia, A. Martinez (L. San Nicolas 69’), M. Vieira, J. Alaez, M. San Nicolas, R. Fernandez (A. Sanchez 69’), J. Cervos.

Scorers: M. Rebes 2’, E. Garcia 55’ og, J. Degabriele 58’, S. Dimech 92’

Referee: Peter Kralovic (Slovakia) 

Assistant Referee Peter Kovac Erik Weiss (Slovakia)

Fourth Official: Michal Ocenas (Slovakia)

Yellow Cards: Vieira, Alavedra, Montebello

Photo Domenic Aquilina