Malta-Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-5

Malta: J. Haber, I. Ciantar (I. Woods), I. Azzopardi, B. Said, L. Dimech, G. Agius (G. Sciberras), C. Mattocks (P. Pullicino), M. Mifsud, A. Schembri, J. Pace, K. Sammut.

Bosnia-H. K. Hasagic, D. Berberovic, V. Music, E. Spahic, Z. Bajmarovic, S. Papac (N. Milenkovic), S. Barbarez (V. Grujic), Z. Misimovic, Z. Muslimovic, M. Hrgovic, M. Bartolovic (M. Beslija)

Referee: T. Vejlgaard (Denmark)Asst refs: P. Udsen, M. Wulff 4th official: N. Vollquartz.

Scorer: S. Barbarez 4, Pace 5, Hrgovic 9, Bartolovic 46, Muslimovic 48, Misimovic, 50, Mifsud 85

Yellow cards: J. Pace

Some ugly defensive slips let Dusan Fitzel’s Malta side down yesterday as his side collapsed to a 5-2 defeat in their opening qualifier yesterday evening at Ta’ Qali.

It was a bad performance by the defence which left too many gaps and committed some unforced errors to give the superior Bosnians a big helping hand in earning their easy victory.

It could be said that the five goals suffered were all the result of poor defending by the locals. It is evident that Fitzel will have to work harder in this department though, to be frank, I was surprised that he left out of his line-up Steve Wellman, one of the successes in the Malta team in the last World Cup qualifiers.

The formation presented by Fitzel appeared to be weak in midfield, but it was the defence which was poor on both flanks, leading to the three-goal leak.

Ian Azzopardi had a difficult time against the fast Bartolovic, while Ciantar was also in serious difficulty against Hrgovic. The latter, together with captain Barbarez, wreaked havoc in the Malta rearguard with their crosses and intelligent running. And it was no surprise that Ian Ciantar was substituted at the interval. Here I thought it could have been Wellman’s moment at the other end. But it was not to be.

However, Malta was not staring at its opponents either and Michael Mifsud was giving a harrassing time to the Bosnian defence, though he found little help from the young and inexperienced Andre Schembri.

Had it not been for the defensive slips, I am sure it would have been a successful start for Malta. Agius, Pace and Mattocks were in fine form in midfield, though I expected something better from Kevin Sammut who never seemed to be in the thick of the action.

In the second half, the match had no further story, esecially after the Bosnians scored two early goals to consolidate their lead.

The Bosnians were in complete control and never allowed the match to escape their grasp. So much so that Malta found it difficult to advance beyond half pitch in the opening 40 minutes.

Mifsud’s goal five minutes from the end was only little consolation even if Pace and Dimech had two good chances to score other goals before the final whistle.

The match had an electrifying start.

On the second minute, Malta threatened seriously to open the scoring. A Gilbert Agius freekick was headed back by Said to Mattocks whose powerful first timer was turned to corner in style by Hasagic.

But in their first attack, the Bosnians quickly struck to take an early lead. Captain Barbarez found Hrgovic unmarked on the left. The latter’s cross was missed by all but not by the captain who slammed the ball home.

Soon after, on the fifth minute, it was 1-1 to the delight of all the Maltese fans. It was Mattocks who insisted on a difficult ball. It was finally passed to Jamie Pace who hit home a fine rising shot from 25 metres which beat the Bosnian goalie.

On the ninth minute, Bosnia took the lead once again. This time it was Mirko Hrgovic who hit home a low angled shot past Haber after another cross was completely missed by the Maltese defence.

On 26 minutes, Mifsud should have equalised for Malta. Quite intelligently he robbed a ball off Spahic and advanced into the area only to see his effort going agonisingly just wide of the upright.

On 42 minutes, Haber did well to block to corner an angled effort from Hrgovic.

In added time Bosnia were gifted their third goal - the killer goal. Ian Ciantar, all alone, cleared badly. The ball went directly to Mladen Bartolovic who kicked low and hard past Haber from the edge of the area.

Bosnia scored again soon after the changeover. And again it was Barbarez and Hrgovic who tore apart the right hand side of our defence with Hrgovic’s cross going to Muslimovic who dribbled round Haber before planting the ball into an empty net.

Soon after it was 5-1 as it was Misimovic’s turn to find the net. And on 59 minutes it was Agius who avoided a sixth goal for Malta as he cleared off the line a Spahic header.

On 76 minutes, Malta managed to advance into Bosnia’s area for the first time in the second half, but substitute Pullicino’s effort just missed the target.

Mifsud pulled one back for Malta on the 85th minute after he received a good pass from Andre Schembri.

Malta had two other chances before the end. First it was Pace whose shot was deviated to a corner, while in added injury time, Luke Dimech advanced on a fine solo move only to lift his shot over the bar from the edge of the area.