Malta: J. Haber, I. Ciantar, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, L. Dimech, G. Agius, C. Mattocks (A. Cohen), M. Mifsud, S. Wellman, G. Mallia, W. Camenzuli (E. Barbara).
Georgia: N. Revishvili, D. Mchedlishvili (M. Bzhalava), M. Gvinianidze, L. Tskitishvili, G. Popkhadze, G. Ganugrava, J. Kankava, L. Kobiashvili, D. Mujiri (K. Makharadze), R. Gotsirizde (G. Chelidze), O. Martsvaladze.
Referee: V. Banari (Moldova). Asst refs: C. Micallef, J. Camilleri, 4th official: A. Zammit.
Scorers: Martsvaladze, Kankava,
Yellow cards: Popkhadze, Kobiashvili, I. Ciantar, Revishvili, I. Azzopardi,
Red card: Kankava
Two early goals yesterday secured a victory for a 10-man Georgia side over Malta who finished the tournament in bottom place with two defeats and no points.
Moldova had won the tournament on the second day, when they beat Georgia 5-1 after having posted a 2-0 win over Malta in their first match on Saturday.
Yesterday, Dusan Fitzel made use of all his best players, including the three foreign-based performers, Haber, Dimech and Mifsud.
In the first half, Georgia were a completely superior outfit. They dominated all departments, especially the midfield sector, giving the locals no chance to settle down.
To make matters worse for Malta, the visitors scored two early goals and that conditioned the locals’ performance.
In fact, they were shell-shocked and never produced a decent reaction. Georgia even threatened to add a third goal before we finally saw goalie Revishvili in action, saving a Mifsud lone effort a few minutes from the break.
It was evident that Malta lacked any ideas. Moreover, most of the passes went astray and it was useless sending that long ball to the well covered Mifsud. He was not afforded much space.
In the second half, Fitzel left Camenzuli and Mattocks in the dressing room, substituting them with the more mobile Andrew Cohen on the flank and Etienne Barbara up front as he tried to give the attack more punch.
Malta improved as Georgia elected to defend their lead, even before they had Kankava sent off. It was their third dismissal in two matches.
Now Malta took the match in hand and pushed forward with determination going near to scoring through Agius and Mifsud, without any shadow of doubt, our best players on the night, especially in the second half.
Malta started on a wrong note as after only three minutes, Georgia had taken the lead through Martsvaladze who beat Haber from close range.
Georgia remained the better outfit as Malta were shocked. And it was no surprise they added a second goal on the 11th minute. A freekick by Kobiashvili saw Kankava anticipating Haber to head into an empty net.
Six minutes later, Haber did well to turn to corner a shot from the grounded Gotsiridze.
Malta failed to produce a decent response to these setbacks and their first shot at goal was a Mattocks effort from outside the area on 36 minutes. And it did not provide any trouble for the goalie, as it went well wide of the target.
Two minutes later, Gilbert Agius set Briffa on the right, but the goalie rushed out of his charge to anticipate.
In the 41st minute, Malta had the best and only chance to reduce the gap when Briffa set Mifsud and the latter’s hard shot was saved with difficulty by the Georgian goalie.
Soon after the start of the second half, Gilbert Agius dribbled round three players before unleashing a grounder that just missed the target.
On 57 minutes, Georgia ended up in ten men when Kankava was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Mifsud went close through a freekick that should have had better fate.
Malta insisted and on 65 minutes, another Agius shot was deviated to an abortive corner. And soon after, Mifsud had another low drive going wide.
On 78 minutes, Malta should have scored. Agius pinpointed a beautiful pass to Mifsud who weaved his way past two defenders, only to lift his close range effort over the bar.
Again on the 82nd minute, Malta was unlucky when a Ciantar header, off a Briffa corner, hit the upright.
Till the end, Georgia closed all the gaps and Malta could not even score a consolation goal.