Malta: M. Muscat (A. Hogg), I. Azzopardi, B. Said, K. Scicluna, S. Wellman, M. Mifsud (K. Sammut), I. Woods (A. Cohen), G. Mallia (G. Agius), A. Schembri (T. Scerri), P. Pullicino (R. Bajada), J. Pace.
Lithuania: P. Grybauskas, M. Stankevicius, R. Dziaukstas, G. Paulauskas, A. Skerla, N. Barasa (R. Beniusis), T. Danilevicius (V. Kavaliauskas), M. Kalonas (A. Gedgaudas), I. Morinas (L. Pilibaitis), D. Miceika (A. Preisaitis), T. Radzinevicius
Referee: B. Lawlor (Wales FA); Asst refs: I. Spiteri, C. Micallef; 4th official: J. Attard.
Scorers: Danilevicius 2, Radzinevicius, G. Agius, V. Kavaliauskas
Yellow card: T. Danilevicius
Malta yesterday failed to maintain the momentum after the excellent 2-1 win against Hungary last month.
This time, a strong Lithuania emerged easy 4-1 winners to disappoint the fairly-sized crowd at the Hibs Ground.
One cannot say that the Maltese did not try. In fact, they fought bravely and were even unlucky on a certain number of occasions, but it was quite evident that the Maltese players were affected by the long League stoppage – four weeks. The defence, in particular, was often caught napping and Lithuania could have also scored more goals.
With the match being a friendly and with substitutions being made at regular intervals during the second half, it was obvious that the team would have never managed to reproduce the form that it had shown against Hungary.
In the first half, neither Malta nor Lithuania managed to enthuse the crowd present at the Hibs Ground,
Despite the brilliant sunshine, the two teams provided a boring 45 minutes during which all that we saw was the only goal, albeit a controversial one, and two fine actions from Malta where we were unlucky not to score on at least one of them.
Malta were far away from the form shown against Hungary and the defence appeared to be missing the influence of strong defender Luke Dimech.
Midfield was also inexistent as Jamie Pace, Peter Pullicino, George Mallia and Ivan Woods were having a difficult time against their direct opponents.
And to cap it all, Michael Mifsud and Andre Schembri were both substituted during the first half, because of injuries. The Lillestrom striker was only a pale shadow of the same Mifsud on the field in the match against Hungary where he literally mesmerised the opposition.
Malta was missing four players from the team that faced Hungary. Haber and Dimech were already ruled out while Fitzel opted to start with Ivan Woods and Peter Pullicino instead of Gilbert Agius and Kevin Sammut.
In the second half, Malta appeared to be fighting back but when an equaliser seemed to be quite possible, Lithuania struck again and another goal some minutes later put paid to any hopes the Maltese might have had of saving the game.
In this half, both teams made six substitutions. Pieta goalie Andrew Hogg made his debut. He came in for Muscat at the start of the second half.
Lithuania created the first opportunity but a low shot from Radzinevicius on six minutes was blocked by Muscat.
On 12 minutes, Malta was unlucky not to open the scoring. A good ball between Pullicino, Woods and Andre Schembri ended with the latter squaring the ball for Woods to fire a fine rising shot which hit the crossbar.
On 18 minutes, Malta was forced to substitute an injured Andre Schembri with Terence Scerri.
After a rather depressing period in which neither side was able to create anything, Lithuania took the lead on the 39th minute, albeit through a controversial move. Barasa set Danilevicius in the Malta area. The Livorno striker appeared to be in an offside position, but with the official waving play on as no flag went up from his assistant Ingmar Spiteri, Danilevicius easily hit home past a helpless Muscat.
Soon after Malta was close to scoring an equaliser. Pullicino set Scerri in the Lithuania area, but his effort was blocked by the onrushing Grybauskas.
As the second half started, Malta again went close to equalising. Sammut sent Scerri through, but when harassed by a defender, he had his shot smothered to a corner. From Sammut’s corner, the goalie fumbled the ball but Brian Said only managed a shot in the side netting from a difficult angle.
Two minutes later, another fine move between Scerri, Woods and Pullicino ended with the Msida man’s low shot being saved by the diving Grybauskas.
As Malta insisted on attack, even Kenneth Scicluna had a grounder saved by the goalie.
However, it was Lithuania who struck again on 58 minutes – against the run of play. Radzinevicius had a a shot parried partially by Hogg, but he was still at hand to head the ball into the net.
Moments later, it could have been 3-0 but substitute Beniusis hit the upright after a fine solo move.
The third goal arrived on the 67th minute. A cross from Morinas found Danilevicius completely unmarked and the Livorno striker had no difficulty in planting the ball home.
Malta’s reply arrived on 72 minutes, a George Mallia humdinger being turned to corner by the goalie. And four minutes later, a Jamie Pace shot from a Cohen short freekick went just wide. Bajada also had a good opportunity, but he headed wide off a Sammut cross.
Beniusis almost added a fourth on 81 minutes but Hogg dived sideways to turn to corner.
Malta’s reward arrived on 86 minutes. From a cross by Kevin Sammut Gilbert Agius headed home beautifully.
But Lithuania quickly re-established the three-goal lead when on 90 minutes, Kavaliauskas raced in on a fine through pass by Pilibaitis and beat Hogg.