Malta 2

Slovenia 2

Malta: H. Bonello, S. Borg (E. Pepe 46'), M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong, S. Pisani (N. Muscat 76'), P. Mbong (N. Portelli 81'), L. Montebello (K. Reid 67'), J. Corbalan (C. Zamit Lonardelli 81'), Y. Yankam, J. Borg, Z. Muscat.

Slovenia: J. Oblak (V. Belec 46'), J. Balkovec, J. Bijol (M. Blazic 46'), A. Sporar, B. Sesko, J. Kurtic (J. Stankovic 78'), J. Miakar (B. Verbic 46'), T. Horvat, P. Stojanovic, V. Drkusic, A. Cerin (T. Elsnik 62').

Referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark)

Scorers: A. Sporar 28', M. Guillaumier 54', S. Pisani 58', Sesko 80'

Yellow cards: L. Montebello, E. Pepe, J. Kurtic, P. Mbong, Z. Muscat

Attendance: 1,600

Malta earned a deserved draw against Slovenia at Ta' Qali after a very fine performance. Malta suffered a soft goal in the first half, but then scored two great goals in the space of four minutes in the first part of the second half.

The match was entertaining and had the ingredients of a competitive match with some tackles from both sets surely above the friendly level. It was a surprisingly positve performance for the Malta side, with players like Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong and Yankam playing a blinder.

Against a side which qualified for the Euros in Germany next June, our display was more than encouraging, and one hopes that this will be repeated next Tuesday against Belarus in another friendly.

Marcolini started with the usual setup with Zach Muscat, Steve and Jean Borg forming the back three. With Ryan Camenzuli missing, Joseph Mbong was employed on the left flank with another Hamrun player Corbalan taking the right flank.

Foreign imports Guillaumier and Yankam together with Steve Pisani formed the midfield trio, with Luke Montebello and Paul Mbong as strikers. Malta played a diligent first half and had very good patches too with swift movement of the ball in the build up. Pity that we suffered a goal following a defensive blunder.

After a quite start Malta had the first attempt at goal on eight minutes when a Guillaumier cross was met by Paul Mbong, with his header well saved by Oblak. Slovenia had their first opportunity five minutes later but Sesko's shot from an ideal position was too weak to worry Bonello.

Slovenia now took control of the match and on 17 minutes a Balkovec cross shot deceived Bonello with the ball finishing on top of the crossbar. Minutes later a Sporar shot from a corner action created havoc in front of goal but the ball was somehow cleared to safety.

On 28 minutes Malta suffered a goal that could have easily been avoided. It was a gift from our defence with Henry Bonello's clearance intercepted by Sporar who found the back of the net. On 38 minutes, Joseph Mbong, surely our best player in the first half, dribbled his way inside the area but his rising shot went over the bar.

For the second half Enrico Pepe came in for Steve Borg who suffered an injury in the dying moments of the first half. Malta had a glorious opportunity on 53 minutes with Montebello passing towards Paul Mbong whose effort was cleared almost off the goal line by Drkusic.

But the draw was in the offing and came on 54 minutes when Guillaumier scored a beauty with a great shot from well outside the area, a shot to which Belec had no answer. The best was yet to come as four minutes later Malta went ahead with yet another great goal scored by Steve Pisani direct from a freekick.

Slovenia now pushed forward and Bonello made a great save off Sesko. The same player made no mistake ten minutes from time when he fired home from the edge of the area. Seconds later Nevin Portelli and Zammit Lonardelli made their debut for Malta