MALTA-0
BELARUS-1
An 88th minute goal from a freekick by Romashenko enabled Belarus to beat a plucky Malta side to also win the tournament, ahead of Armenia on goal difference.
This match became very important for the outcome of the tournament after Armenia's defeat by Iceland in an earlier match. The winner would have won the tournament. As a consequence of yesterday's results, Malta finished in bottom place, below Iceland on goal difference.
Before the start, Michael Mifsud was presented with the Sportsman of the Year trophy by Charles Camenzuli, president of the Sportswriters Association. He had been unavoidably absent on Awards Night last week.
The match was unfortunately played in front of just a few hundreds, which was the order of the day on all three days of the tournament.
Fitzel yesterday played with his best possible formation leaving only midfielder Jamie Pace on the bench with Gareth Sciberras taking his place. The side included the four 'foreigners', that is, Justin Haber, Luke Dimech, Michael Mifsud and Udo Nwoko. Also missing was Andre Schembri who was given permission to remain with his club in Germany.
Coventry striker Mifsud was quickly in action lifting a shot well over the bar after just four minutes.
In the first half neither side prevailed over the other, even if Belarus enjoyed more ball possession and seemed to better organised in midfield.
However, Malta appeared to be even more dangerous in their fewer attacks where Michael Mifsud, as usual, was a thorn in the Belarus defence.
The second half was more entertaining with both sides creating a good number of chances with Malta's Mifsud remaining the most dangerous player on the field of play.
In fact, he was unlucky on several occasions, but then contrived to miss the easiest of all opportunities with ten minutes to go.
At first both sides were slow in their approach but on the 15th minute, Mifsud was through on the left, his cross was flicked by Woods, but the ball passed across goal.
On the 25th minute, Malta had a good chance to open the scoring when Gilbert Agius passed perfectly to Udo Nwoko, but the Leixoes winger hit carelessly wide.
Ten minutes later, it was again Mifsud who had the Belarus defence at sixes and sevens. His low cross was blocked in extremis before the ball could arrive at the unmarked Ivan Woods. The rebound went back to Mifsud, but his shot hit the side netting.
Early in the second half, Mifsud received a long pass, beat the goalie but then his angled shot was weak and Filipenka could clear before the ball crossed the line.
Immediately afterwards, at the other end, Kutuzov saw his angled shot beat Haber, but the ball passed across goal.
On the 55th minute Malta missed the best chance until then. Mifsud advanced on the right flank to deliver a good cross to the unmarked Brian Said who lifted the ball high from five metres.
Three minutes later, it was again Mifsud who went round the goalie, but then his effort was blocked by the same goalie to corner.
Moments later it was Haber who turned protagonist for Malta, turning to corner a close range header from Radzkou. Soon after, it was again Haber who saved the result for Malta, turning to corner another close range effort from Alexandr Hleb.
Hleb missed a good chance for Belarus on 64 minutes when he lifted over the bar with only Haber to beat.
The Malta goalie again stopped a dangerous incursion by Kalachev but at the other end, Mifsud again advanced into the Belarus area only to see his angled effort going wide.
With ten minutes to go, Malta should have taken the lead. Bajada crossed low for Mifsud who had an open goal at his mercy. But from three metres, he did the impossible and hit the crossbar!
As often happens, the goal arrived at the other end. In fact, Belarus scored soon after, on the 88th minute. They were awarded a freekick on the right flank and substitute Romashenko's shot went straight into the far corner.
That proved to be a real winner for Belarus as it enabled them to win the tournament. But it was a very harsh blow for Malta who never deserved to be defeated.