Confident performance shou

Malta-N. Ireland 1-1

Malta: J. Haber, P. Pullicino (I. Ciantar), S. Wellman, R. Briffa, B. Said, L. Dimech (K. Scicluna), G. Agius (G. Mallia), C. Mattocks (A. Zahra), A. Cohen (K. Sammut), I. Woods, O. Anonam.

N. Ireland: M. Taylor, S. Craigen, A. Hughes, J. Whitley (C. Brunt), C. Murdock, S. Davis (P. Mulryne), K. Gillespie, D. Johnson, D. Healy, J. Quinn (W. Feeney), S. Elliott (S. Jones).

Referee: M. Riley (English FA).

Asst refs: K. Borg, J. Rapa. 4th official: C. Lautier.

Scorers: D. Healy, I. Woods,

Yellow cards: A. Zahra

Red cards: I. Woods, K. Gillespie

A last-gasp penalty miss by George Mallia foiled Malta yesterday at Ta’ Qali. Had Mallia scored, it would have proved to be a winner richly deserved by the gallant Maltese, who held the upper hand throughout.

It was a very encouraging performance by the locals which should go a long way towards winning back the confidence of the local fans, who had abandoned the team in the past few years after so many disastrous results, even at home.

I would not be exaggerating to say that Malta enjoyed territorial advantage and were always in command except for a brief period, just before the penalty, when the Irish exerted some hot pressure without, however, being really dangerous.

In the first half, there was not much difference beween the two teams as Malta, despite being heavily depleted, played an offensive match as Heese had promised the day before. In fact, the local boys gave as much as they got and even if they did not deserve to suffer that early Healy goal, they must be given full credit for their comeback which earned them a more than deserved equaliser.

And mention must be made of that Ivan Woods goal which made me remember that day in Minsk, when David Carabott scored a similar magnificent goal to earn Malta an away 1-1 draw.

I liked the way the team performed ? a healthy change from what we had become accustomed to in the last few years.

Admittedly the opponents were not a top ranked team ? far from it. In fact, at the end of the first 45 minutes, Malta were clearly on top with Gilbert Agius supreme in midfield ? he must have been playing his best ever match for Malta ? helped in no small measure on the flanks by Roderick Briffa and Claude Mattocks as well as debutant Orosco Anonam.

Agius certainly deserved the long applause of the crowd as he left the pitch to be substituted by George Mallia in the second half.

At the back, Brian Said, Stephen Wellman and Luke Dimech were also outstanding while up front Woods did well apart from the goal, while Andrew Cohen had a quiet performance being well marked by a much taller opponent in Colin Murdoch.

It was a pity that Woods marred his excellent performance with a red card on 77 minutes after punching Keith Gillespie who was also ordered off for his bad foul on Cohen.

In the second half, the Malta team remained in command of midfield and the Irish rarely found the opportunity to test goalie Justin Haber. When they did, they were well off target. The goalie, however, showed excellent reflexes with some neat handling whenever he was called into action.

At the other end Taylor denied Malta with a top class save off Woods and another off Cohen before saving the result for his team when he stopped that last gasp penalty from George Mallia.

And even the substitutions made by Heese seemed to have made little effect on a side that played confidently all the way.

A one-minute silence was observed before kick-off in memory of former Malta international goalkeeper David Cluett, who passed away last month.

Malta had a very promising start. On the fourth minute, Malta earned a freekick. Agius squared low for Cohen to control and shoot low across the goal, but Taylor was alert and saved on deck.

Two minutes later, another freekick from the Malta captain saw Briffa just missing the target with a low shot. Soon after, Briffa again was unlucky as his first-timer off a Wellman cross was well saved by Taylor.

But it was the Irish who opened the scoring on the eighth minute, in their first foray upfield. From a Johnson cross, Healy was left unmarked at the far post to head easily home as Haber remained firm between the sticks.

On 18 minutes, Peter Pullicino had an effort going wide. At the other end, on 29 minutes, it was Haber who saved well a low freekick by Healy.

Woods also had a 20 metre effort well saved by Taylor. It was a prelude to the goal which arrived just one minute later. Agius sent a perfect freekick to Mattocks on the left flank. The latter passed to Woods, who rounded an opponent on the edge of the area, before firing home a splendid rising shot which left Taylor staring. A real Euro goal!

Malta went close again on 52 minutes. After another Agius freekick, a fine action between Cohen, Anonam and Said ended with the latter hitting well over the bar from an ideal position.

At the other end, Stuart Elliott also missed a sitter for the Irish as he hit wildly over the bar from the edge of the area.

On the 56th minute, Agius combined well with Cohen to receive the ball only to lift his effort over the bar. Soon after, Briffa set Mattocks who breasted the ball down for Woods, but the latter’s great shot found Taylor equal to the task. Again the goalie was the hero for N. Ireland soon after, as he saved a Cohen header from close in.

In the final minutes, the Irish forced a lot of pressure on the Malta goal and on one occasion, it was Said who saved in extremis, clearing the ball away before Healy could hit home.

Zahra could have snatched the winner for Malta in the 89th minute. Briffa set Ciantar on the right and the latter’s cross went to Zahra who skied the ball from just two metres.

Soon after, Zahra atoned as he was floored by Stephen Craigan in the area when on the point of shooting at goal. The official pointed to the penalty spot, but George Mallia muffed the chance to earn Malta the victory it deserved as his shot was saved by the diving Taylor.

This performance, however, helped in no small measure to start rebuilding the confidence in the side after so many disastrous results in the past.

ld win back the hearts of the locals