Malta: J. Haber, I. Ciantar, I. Azzopardi (A. Zahra), R. Briffa, B. Said, L. Dimech, S. Wellman, P. Pullicino, A. Cohen (M. Grima), I. Woods (E. Barbara), G. Mallia.

Bulgaria: S. Kolev, R. Kishishev (M. Kamburov), V. Iliev, C. Yankov, D. Berbatov, V. Boijinov (B. Georgien), M. Venkov, M. Petrov (Z. Lazarov), G. Iliev, E. Topuzakov, E. Gargarov.

Referee: V. Godulyan (Ukraine).

Asst refs: V. Olshanetskyy, A. Pryymak.

4th official: I. Ishchenko

Scorers: C. Yankov, E. Barbara

Yellow cards: V. Iliev, M. Petrov, A. Zahra, G. Mallia.

On an emotionally charged night, no one seemed to want to leave the Ta’ Qali Stadium yesterday after a highly satisfying 1-1 draw. The 7,000 crowd rightly provided a standing ovation to the Malta team and their ‘footballing father’Horst Heese at the end of yesterday’s match.

The point was richly deserved and the players must have dedicated the performance to the German coach who is leaving Malta soon.

It could have also ended on a better note had Barbara taken the chances which came his way near the end. But perhaps, I would have been asking too much.

It was a great collective effort and considering that we had to play without skipper Gilbert Agius, then our performance and result were even more meritorious.

In the first half, play was more or less shared and both teams had their chances, but Bulgaria enjoyed more possession in midfield, a sector in which Malta was found lacking. Here the visitors were obviously stronger and were much better equipped with players of the calibre of Iliev, Gargarov and Petrov.

The Maltese were strong at the back where Brian Said, Luke Dimech and Stephen Wellman rarely made a mistake. Bulgarian dangermen Boijinov and Berbatov were, in fact, rarely dangerous, as the Maltese appeared to be in control at the back.

Up front Cohen and Woods were livewires despite being under control by the Bulgarian defence.

In the second half, Bulgaria seemed to have taken the upper hand and pressed hard until they opened the scoring. But then Malta came back strongly into the game and after getting the equaliser, we even finished the match on a crescendo, piercing the Bulgarian defence at will, though failing to apply the killer touch.

The two teams were greeted with an electrifying atmosphere on their entry into the pitch. I had lost memory when we were witnesses to something similar in the past. Well done to the crowd which provided some magnificent support. After such a display I am sure the side will regain the public’s confidence after such a performance, showing that the 1-1 draw against Croatia was no fluke.

Malta started on a top note and on 10 minutes, Cohen had a fine effort just missing the target. Bulgaria replied with a similar Petrov effort which also went over.

On 22 minutes, Malta missed a good opportunity to open the scoring. A bad defensive rebound by the Bulgarians favoured Cohen who passed to Wellman, but the latter hesitated and hit wide.

On 27 minutes, it was Haber who neutralised a low but dangerous cross from Kishishev. Seven minutes later, Dimech blocked a Petrov first timer after a cross from Berbatov.

Soon after the start of the second half, a good combination between Woods, Pullicino and Cohen ended with goalie Kolev diving at the Hibs striker’s feet to avoid an awkward situation.

Soon after, at the other end, Berbatov managed to beat Haber but Ian Ciantar cleared off the line. From the resultant corner, an Iliev header was again cleared off the line, this time by Azzopardi.

On 54 minutes, Haber was called upon to save a low Iliev shot. Soon after the goalie also saved a Lazarov effort from the angle.

Bulgaria continued to press hard and on the hour, it was again Haber who dived sideways to smother a Berbatov low shot. Two minutes later, Lazarov hit the side rigging.

The goal was in the offing and it arrived on 65 minutes. From an Iliev cross, the defence was at sixes and sevens and Yankov was in the right place to head home from close in.

The Ta’ Qali Stadium erupted with joy on 78 minutes when Malta equalised. Substitute Etienne Barbara exchanged the ball with Cohen and after avoiding a tackle from an opponent, he slid the ball past Kolev.

On 80 minutes, Antoine Zahra appeared to have been floored in the area, but the official, close to the action, showed the yellow card to the Malta player, for simulation.

Two minutes later, Barbara set Pullicino on the left, but the latter’s cross shot missed the far upright.

In added injury time, a super counter-attack by Malta ended with Barbara lifting his effort over the bar. And soon after Barbara again lifted the ball over the bar after a fine solo effort.

But the final whistle found the Maltese worthy of their third point. It certainly left the sizeable crowd well and truly delighted and satisfied.