Despite enjoying a welter of possession Malta did not go beyond a 1-1 draw against the modest team of San Marino on the second day of an international triangular tournament at the MFA Training Grounds Ta' Qali.

The Maltese went behind after 18 minutes when Andrea Zafferani slotted in off the near post following a breakaway. After that setback our team pushed forward but could not create any telling openings until the interval.

Seven minutes after the restart, central defender Andreas Galea flashed in a header off a flag-kick from Elkien Cauchi to level matters. The pressure on the San Marino fort mounted and goalkeeper Mattia Manzaroli thwarted Lyden Micallef twice in quick succession and then denied Ismael Grech.

Malta kept up the pressure but good routine work by the visitors' central defenders in front of their alert custodian barred the way towards a winning goal for the erstwhile disappointing Malta.

Oliver Spiteri's team now face an uphill task today – 11am kick-off – to win the tournament as they have to beat Cyprus, 2-0 winners over San Marino on Tuesday, and hope for a better goal difference in the final reckoning.