Malta: J. Haber (A. Hogg), W. Wellman, B. Said (I. Azzopardi), R. Briffa, L. Dimech, G. Agius (G. Sciberras), K. Sammut (I. Ciantar), M. Mifsud, G. Mallia (A. Cohen), T. Scerri (I. Woods), J. Pace

Austria: J. Macho, J. Standfest, M. Stranzl, M. Hiden, A. Ibertsberger, R. Aufhauser, T. Prager, M. Weissenberger, R. Linz, A. Ivanschitz, S. Kuljic. Substitutes: A. Manninger, G. Garics, F. Feldhofer, C. Fuchs, M. Keisenbner, Y. Sariyar, M. Akagunduz.g

Referee: C. Bartolini (Switzerland).

Asst refs: I. Spiteri, A. Camilleri.

4th official: J. Attard.

Scorers: G. Agius, A. Ivanschitz

Malta and Austria played out a 1-1 draw yesterday in the 50th anniversary match at the national stadium.

In a match attended also by Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona, the Maltese took the lead early in the first half, the Austrians scored an early equaliser in the second half and the match then petered out into a draw, despite the visitors’ domination.

But all in all, it was a fair result as Fitzel’s boys never deserved to leave the pitch empty handed. Austria were superior in midfield but it was the local boys’ determination that earned them the draw on a nostalgic day that brought about several memories of what had happened on that historic day in February 1957.

At the end of the first half, Malta richly deserved the 1-0 lead. Although somewhat weak and deconcentrated in midfield, the boys in red were alert at the back and fast and dangerous on the break, so much so that Fitzel’s boys were much more prominent than their more illustrious counterparts.

The Austrians appeared to be superior in midfield, but Fitzel replied with the long ball on the flanks where Scerri and Mifsud were often fed from the back, causing a lot of headaches to the Austrians’ defence.

In the second half, the Austrians made several changes to their line-up, but it had to be a rather lucky goal for them to be able to equalise.

They pressed hard to get a winner, but Malta defended bravely and it had to be Siena goalie Alexander Manninger who thwarted Mifsud from getting a winner for Malta.

At the end, Malta fully deserved the draw and the applause from the crowd present which probably did not go beyondg the 3,000 mark, including complimentaries – by far well below the 17,400 mark registered 50 years ago.

Haber was already tested by Prager after only two minutes after some fine work by Ivanschitz.

Malta was not staring at their opponents either and they could not have had a better start as in a counter-attack, they won a corner on seven minutes. Mallia crossed into the area, the ball was cleared out to Gilbert Agius who hit first time into the roof of the net from just outside the area. A gem of a goal!

On the 18th minute, Wellman had a low freekick well saved by Macho. Five minutes later a fine move involving Michael Mifsud, Kevin Sammut and Jamie Pace ended with the latter’s low shot just missing the target.

Moments later, Mifsud tried his luck from around 25 metres, but the ball went wide.

Austria were subdued by the alert Maltese at the back and never threatened Haber in goal. Roland Linz had a goal disallowed for an obvious offside infringement on 42 minutes.

Moments later, Malta suffered a setbamck when captain Gilbert Agius had to be substituted by Sciberras after being injured.

And it was Malta who nearly added a second in the 44th minute, when Mifsud dribbled round two opponents only to see his effort being turned to corner in style by goalie Macho.

Austria equalised soon after the start of the second half, but there was the element of luck all around the goal. Dimech was yellow carded for conceding a freekick on the edge of the area. Ivanschitz’s shot hit the barrier to shift its direction, sending the ball one way and Haber the other.

Immediately afterwards, Mifsud was again a protagonist as he sped upfield, but his shot from the edge of the area was again turned to a corner by the diving goalkeeper, this time Siena’s Manninger, who had entered the field as a substitute.

Austria had one good opportunity on 58 minutes but Linz hit wide from a favourable position.

Malta also missed a great opportunity on 82 minutes when in a two on one situation, Mifsud was selfish when he opted to try and dribble round the defender rather than passing the ball to the unmarked Woods. The excellent chance went abegging.