Malta: A. Hogg, E. Muscat, I. Azzopardi, B. Said, A. Muscat (R. Briffa), G. Agius, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen, S. Bajada (C. Failla), K. Scicluna, J. Pace.

Sweden: A. Isaksson, M. Nilsson, O. Mellberg, D. Majstorovic, B. Safari, R. Elm, S. Holmen (T. Hysen), A. Svensson (M. Berg), K. Kallstrom, Z. Ibrahimovic, J. Elmander (S. Larsson).

Referee: A. McCourt (N. Ireland)

Asst refs: J. McDowell, P. Munn; 4th official: D. Malcolm

Scorers: M. Berg 80

Yellow cards: B. Safari, M. Mifsud

An own goal by Ian Azzopardi ten minutes from the end gave Sweden a precious three points against a brave and plucky Malta side yesterday evening. The win enabled the Swedes to move closer to a place in next year's finals depending, of course, on the outcome of the remaining matches.

However, they will have to play much better than they did yesterday to advance. The defeat was a big blow for Malta which had appeared good enough to hold on to an unlikely draw till the goal arrived.

At the end there was relief on the Swedish faces while sheer disappointment was clear among the whole Maltese clan. I feel it would not be fair to say that Sweden did not deserve to win, but I think the Maltese did not deserve to lose either!

A crowd of around 7,000 turned out for this match, 2,000 of whom were Swedish fans clad in their yellow and blue colours. They made their presence felt at Ta' Qali with their continuous and vociferous support. But even the Maltese fans must be commended for their excellent support to the team, although I expected a bigger crowd to back Buttigieg's boys.

Buttigieg made some unexpected changes in his line-up keeping Emmanuel Muscat on the right flank and pushing in Alex Muscat in front of him. Veteran skipper Gilbert Agius was returning to the side in midfield while Shaun Bajada was preferred to start the match.

As expected Sweden had much more of the ball as they dominated the midfield sector, but Malta were so well organised at the back that Ibrahimovic and Elmander, especially the latter, were rarely given the chance to have a pot at goal. It was only in the second half that they appeared dangerous before they eventually scored.

Hogg was called upon to deal with several crosses which he did very efficiently, but to be exact, he had only one excellent save to perform, especially during the opening half.

Malta rarely had the chance to move upwards and when they did, Michael Mifsud was too isolated to be of any serious threat. On one occasion, however, goalie Isaksson had to dive sideways to parry a Cohen good effort.

In the second half, despite Sweden's urgency to go forward, Malta also had their chances through some fast counter-attacks and Michael Mifsud almost scored with a good dipper.

Sweden took command right from the start and had already gone close on the second minute. A fine move between Elm, Ibrahimovic and Elmander ended with the latter's shot going wide.

The Barca star striker then had a freekick going well over the bar.

Malta replied on the 15th minute with a Michael Mifsud low but angled shot, being saved in two attempts, but with no difficulty, by Isaksson.

Two minutes later, Jamie Pace won a fine ball in midfield, advanced a few paces and set Mifsud. The latter tried to beat his opponent but lost the ball on the edge of the area.

Moments later, at the other end, Ibrahimovic, jeered by the Maltese fans, whenever he had the ball at his feet, had a cross-shot going just wide.

On the 28th minute a fine move between Gilbert Agius, Michael Mifsud and Andrew Cohen ended with the latter's fine effort being well saved by Isaksson.

Two minutes later, from a Kallstrom cross, Majstorovic's header was turned to corner by a superb Andrew Hogg.

Till the interval, Sweden pressed hard to get the goal they required to set their minds at rest, but shots from Ibrahimovic and Kallstrom were blocked by the massed Maltese defence.

At the interval, the Malta deserved the goalless scoreline.

Soon after the start of the second half, Sweden threatened seriously to take the lead through a Kallstrom shot which hit both uprights before being cleared to corner by a Maltese defender.

On the 58th minute, an Ibrahimovic overhead kick was dealt with confidently by Hogg, while at the other end, Cohen square a good ball low for Alex Muscat, but the Sliema man hit the ball badly and it went wide.

Sweden pushed back into attack and an Elmander effort went wide.

As their pressure increase, Elmander missed a sitter heading wide from only three metres following a cross from the right by Elm.

Elmander again went close with a low shot after a fine personal action.

On the 73rd minute, Malta also went close as Mifsud received a ball in midfield, advanced to the edge of the area, only to see his effort going just over.

On 77 minutes, a fine Malta move involving Cohen, Agius and Failla ended with the latter's effort being saved in two attempts by Isaksson.

With ten minutes to go, Sweden struck albeit with a touch of luck. From a long throw in by Elm, the Maltese defence, for just once, failed to clear the ball away. In nipped Berg on the right to cross low into the centre, where Ian Azzopardi, in an effort to clear, hit the ball into his own net - to the relief and delight of the Swedish players and fans.

How unlucky was Azzopardi in this goal - till then he had been one of the best Malta players on the field of play, playing his heart out and giving Ibrahimovic a very hard time.

Elm also went close with a shot deviated by a defender onto the crossbar. And on 87 minutes, Ibrahimovic had a freekick going just over.

It was a big blow to the brave-hearted Maltese players who never recovered. But they richly deserved the applause of all present at the Stadium yesterday.

One-minute silence

Before kick-off a one-minute silence was observed in memory of former MFA general secretary Joe A. Sacco who passed away yesterday.

Among the distinguished guests present for the match was President Dr George Abela, a former president of the Malta Football Association, the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Clyde Puli and the chairman of the Maltese Council for Sport Bernard Vassallo.

Buttigieg happy with players’ commitment

Malta national coach John Buttigieg was very happy with the performance and committment of his players, even though he was rather disappointed at the way we suffered the goal that mattered ten minutes from time.

Buttigieg said that the Swedes were not dangerous in the first half, but admitted that they had some good scoring chances in the second part of the match.

Sweden’s coach Lagerbeck praised the Maltese team for its defensive set up. He said that against sucj opposition as Malta, an early goal is a necessity, as it gets more complicated as minutes pass.

The Swedish coach said that this was a very important win and now Sweden has a very good chance of obtaining the second place in the group.