An understrength Malta side, for the first time under the charge of new coach Dusan Fitzel and under the watchful eyes of Turkish national coach Fatih Terim, present at Ta’ Qali, was beaten by athletically superior opponents, mostly hailing from Moldova’s under 21side, as a rescheduled Malta International Tournament, following Libya’s retirement, kicked off yesterday in disappointment.
Despite no name from the Moldovan teams which played the last two World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Norway last October, featured in yesterday’s starting line-up, our opponents showed all their physical and technical superiority in the second half, during which they scored both goals to take a deserved victory.
The Maltese starting line-up included only four players from the 1-1 draw against Bulgaria in the last international match.
Fitzel, still in his experimental phase, fielded a blend of youth and experience in a 4-1-4-1 formation, but dropping some regulars, opting to keep his cards hidden prior to the forthcoming encounters with the same Moldova in the European Championships’ qualifying group.
Keeper Muscat was recalled between the posts after a considerable absence with Pullicino and Muscat on the flanks and Scicluna and Said in central defence, featuring in Malta’s back four. Foreign based Andrei Agius, playing in front of the defence, was making his debut, just like Trevor Cilia, who, together with Mallia, Woods and Anonam, made up the midfield quartet. Barbara was deployed as a lone striker. The Maltese lacked the required commitment, lacking creativity and, above all, showing flaws in their physical fitness as the match wore on.
Goalmouth action was at a premium during the first 45 minutes, during which both goalkeepers remained mostly inoperative as both sides failed to create any real goal scoring opportunities.
Barbara was hardly provided with any service and his rare individual forays on the right flank often ended with inaccurate crosses going astray. Malta did not put one decent shot on target as an Agius header on a Woods header went off target and an Anonam shot was blocked, after Said had put the ball into his path.
Shortly past the half hour a short Scicluna back pass forced keeper Muscat to rush out and smother the danger before Alexeev could connect.
The Maltese were shell-shocked by Moldova’s lead after only one minute into the second half. Sergiu Namasco beat keeper Muscat with a low long range drive to put his side in the driving seat.
Malta’s opponents’ grew in composure as they looked sharper and faster on the ball and on 55 minutes Savorov’s deep cross from the left found Alexeev unmarked on the right and his powerful shot was saved by the grounded Muscat in two attempts.
Towards the hour, Malta carved out the best chance to equalise, but fluffed the opportunity. Anonam, put through by substitute Briffa, shot feebly on the keeper’s body.
Looking undoubtedly the better side, Moldova’s second goal on 73 minutes came as no surprise. Igor Bugaiov had all the time in the world to control Suvorov’s cross from the left and beat onrushing Muscat with an intelligent lob.
Malta tried to salvage some pride with the inclusion of Cohen and Gilbert Agius, as Fitzel substituted the entire midfield, but to little avail as Malta remained toothless in attack and Moldova could preserve a prestigious win till the end.
Fitzel’s comments
In his comments after the match, Dusan Fitzel was dissatisfied with the result but not angry with the players. He said that he had a clean mind about the difference from the local level and the international level.
Fitzel saw some improvement in the late stages of the first half after a very slow start but Moldova’s goal soon after the restart killed all Maltese hopes.
Fitzel sees lack of physical power as the main disadvantage for Maltese players and was the first to admit that as the match went on, his players lost physical fitness and had no power to think or score goals.