Malta: J. Haber, J. Caruana (R. Briffa), A. Xuereb, L. Dimech, S. Bajada, E. Barbara (U. Nwoko), J. Pace, A. Schembri, I. Woods, M. Mifsud, T. Scerri (G. Agius).

Hungary: M. Fulop, S. Huszti, L. Bodnar, V. Vanczak, R. Juhasz, B. Bodor, P. Halmosi, B. Dzsudzsak (A. Buzsaky), P. Dardai (B. Toth), S. Torghelle, Z. Gera.

Referee: Johannes Valgersson (Iceland).

Asst refs: O. Gudfinnsson, J. Gudmundsson.

4th official: M. Thorisson.

Scorers: S. Torghelle 23,

Yellow cards: P. Dardai, R. Juhasz, Z. Gera, L. Dimech, J. Pace, L. Bodnar

An improved Malta side yesterday evening suffered its fourth consecutive defeat in this campaign as it went down to a solitary goal to an unimpressive Hungary side.

After four matches Malta has now suffered 11 goals and has yet to score its first goal. But yesterday, at least, there were some positive signs although not enough to overturn the negative trend.

The side however, still tends to lose its concentration in some instances, especially on the occasion when we suffered the only goal. Leaving Juhasz alone in the area on the right hand side proved costly. From his header, Torghelle scored the only goal to the disbelief of the crowd of around 6,000.

The crowd's expectations of a victory by Malta, after the last match between the two teams in Malta had ended in a 2-1 win, did not materialise. And even if Hungary were unimpressive, Malta still found it difficult to conclude their actions, never testing goalie Fulop seriously.

Fitzel made a few changes to the side which lost 3-0 in Copenhagen on Saturday. Ian Azzopardi, Gilbert Agius and Roderick Briffa were relegated to the substitutes' bench, while Shaun Bajada, Etienne Barbara and Terence Scerri made it to the starting line-up.

In the first half, the Maltese appeared to be in better form than in Denmark on Saturday. They shared the exchanges for most of the time and had the better chances until Hungary opened the scoring from a set-piece which they had already tried earlier.

The visitors were uneasy at the back as Mifsud's swiftness and Barbara's runs down the right flank provided them with some worrying moments.

However, they were always in control of the situation with the towering goalie Fulop making it easier for himself to deal with the Malta crosses from either flank.

It was obvious that Hungary wanted to keep Mifsud out of the match as much as possible and by all means - by the end of the first half, they had three players shown a yellow card, all for fouls on Michael Mifsud.

In the second half, Hungary appeared happy with the result - their target was the three points. In fact, they just seemed content to contain the Maltese in midfield where they had absolute control and never allowed Malta to have a pot at goal. On their part, they were also ineffective in front as Luke Dimech and Aaron Xuereb were impeccable in the heart of the Malta defence.

It was only in the final moments that Malta created two anxious moments for the Hungarian defence, but we were still unable to conclude.

Malta had a good chance to open the scoring on eight minutes when a bad clearance by goalie Fulop finished at Michael Mifsud's feet after a rebound from Schembri. The Malta striker was completely surprised and hesitated, allowing the goalie to scoop the ball before he could shoot into the net.

Two minutes later, Barbara earned a freekick but Shaun Bajada's effort went over. On 15 minutes, goalie Fulop had to intercept a dangerous Barbara cross before Scerri could get to the ball.

Hungary opened the scoring on the 23rd minute. A perfectly executed cornerkick from Huszti went to Juhasz. The latter headed goalwards and Sandor Torghelle was on the exact spot to head home past a helpless Haber.

On 33 minutes, Haber had to punch away a Huszti freekick but after that there were no more goalmouth actions as the first half petered out feebly.

The second half started on a very slow pace and neither seemed seemed able to penetrate the respective defences.

On 18 minutes Fitzel made a tactical change in the hope of better things to come - he brought in veteran Gilbert Agius in midfield for Terence Scerri while moving Andre Schembri upfield.

Two minutes later, it was Hungary who threatened again through Huszti who saw his shot going just wide of Haber's post.

With seven minutes to go Malta should have done better than squandering a good chance - the only one - when Jamie Pace was alone in the area after the ball ran kindly for the Reds in the Hungary area. But he hesitated and with the completely unmarked Udo Nwoko eagerly awaiting the ball, Pace's final pass was weak and easily cleared by a defender.

Fitzel to join family before taking decision on his future

National coach Dusan Fitzel said after yesterday's match he would only be taking a decision about his future in about a fortnight.

He said: "Next Monday I go back home for eight days to join my family which I have missed a lot, especially my daughter who is 18 years old now. During those days, I will be able to reflect over my position as head coach of the Maltese national team. When I come back I will probably have taken the decision."

However, he made it clear that he felt that that "you do not really appreciate what I'm doing for you. I feel tired but I have not taken any decision yet. Of course, the match against Hungary could have been my last here," he added

Commenting on yesterday's match, he said he was happy that his players showed that they could show a more positive approach and more determination. "I asked them to pull up their sleeves and try to fight - to show that they still wanted to gain something and they did it, even if we lost. I was glad to see my players putting pressure on the Hungarian players and not allowing them to play their normal game," he said.

When asked what he would do against Iceland in the November friendly were he