Malta 0

Switzerland 0

Malta squeezed a draw against Switzerland yesterday evening in the friendly at Ta’ Qali, but only after Switzerland missed two penalties, one in each half.

Not that the Maltese were outclassed. Far from it. In fact, they richly deserved the applause of all those present for a very encouraging display.

It is true Malta failed to score once again, but this time we avoided defeat in a very honourable manner. The players must be commended for responding courageously after conceding two penalties. Any team would have been shocked but not Buttigieg’s brave boys. It was only in the second half that Switzerland pressed a lot in search of a winner, but the Maltese held on admirably to emerge with their heads held high.

Let’s all hope that this positive result leads to others throughout this year, especially in the forthcoming European qualifiers.

Buttigieg started with Briffa, Agius, Caruana and Mamo at the back and with Sciberras, Fenech, Bajada and Cohen in the middle. Schembri partnered Mifsud in attack, but as the match developed the Fernecvaros man retreated behind Mifsud and in front of the midfield sector.

In the first half, play was more or less balanced, but it was evident that Malta were more dangerous in their attacks, especially when Michael Mifsud moved upfield. On at least three occasions, he was floored when on the point of entering the area to shoot at goal.

But this was not the only positive aspect of this Malta side presented for the occasion by national coach Buttigieg.

Despite being shocked after conceding that first minute penalty, which was however missed by our opponents, the team did not lose its composure. Instead, I felt they gained in confidence and started playing some intelligent football, especially through Briffa, Bajada, Fenech and Sciberras, while Schembri and Cohen were giving continuous support to lonely striker Michael Mifsud. They all had an outstanding first half.

Switzerland certainly had the bigger names in European football on the field, but it was Malta who earned the applause of all those present for their encouraging performance.

In the second half, Switzerland applied more pressure and even created a good number of scoring chances, including a second penalty.

But they either missed them or were thwarted by the excellent Haber between the Malta posts as well as by our well organised defence.

Both Mifsud and Schembri appeared to be well in control in the second half, and it was Cohen who tormented the Swiss defence on the few occasions that Malta launched some attacks.

The match was barely a minute old when Jonathan Caruana handled the ball when dealing with a cross from the right. From the spotkick, Alexander Frei saw his shot being turned onto the upright by Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber with the ball eventually being cleared to a corner.

Malta replied on the ninth minute. Mifsud set Schembri on the edge of the area, but his powerful grounder was well saved by Benaglio.

On the 15th minute, Mifsud was through on a good pass from Cohen but was floored on the edge of the area by Von Bergen. From the resultant freekick, Shaun Bajada saw his good effort turned to corner by Benaglio.

Malta was playing with great confidence with some neat interchanging of passes with the Swiss sometimes being caught napping with the speed of Michael Mifsud.

In the 24th minute, Malta threatened again from another freekick. Mifsud was again brought down on the edge of the area. This time it was Cohen who had his shot slightly deviated, but Benaglio just managed to tip the ball to a corner.

Mifsud was being a continuous thorn in the Swiss defence. On the 27th minute, he was again floored by Grichting on the edge of the area. Bajada’s shot from the freekick, however, was blocked by the defence into a corner.

On the 44th minute, Switzerland also came close to scoring, but from Inler’s cross, Valentin Stocker did not connect well and his weak lob landed on the roof of the net.

Switzerland appeared to be more determined at the start of the second half. In the 47th minute, from a Ziegler cross, it was Alexander Frei who fired well over the bar from an ideal position.

Switzerland should have taken the lead on 55 minutes when they were awarded a second penalty after Paul Fenech floored Derdiyok in the area. But from the resultant spotkick, Haber covered himself in glory as he dived to save Inler’s shot to keep his net intact.

At the other end, on 68 minutes, Andrew Cohen rose high to head a fine Bajada cross just over the post.

Switzerland went close to scoring on 73 minutes. It was substitute Shaqiri who fired a low shot just wide of the target with Haber beaten.

A minute later, as the Swiss pressed forward, from a Lichsteiner cross, it was Streller who saw his header glancing just wide of the upright.

Haber was again a protagonist on 77 minutes when he saved a fierce shot from Derdiyok. Soon after he was again in action, saving a header from the same player.

Switzerland increased their pressure near the end, but the Maltese defended stoutly to keep their net intact.

Malta J. Haber, J. Caruana, C. Mamo (C. Failla), G. Sciberras, A. Agius (J. Zerafa), P. Fenech (J. Pace), R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (K. Sammut), S. Bajada, A. Schembri (I. Woods).

Switzerland D. Benaglio, S. Lichsteiner, R. Ziegler, S. von Bergen, P. Schwegler (B. Dzemaili), G. Inler (G. Fernandes), A. Frei (D. Degen), H. Yakin (M. Streller), S. Grichting (F.

Affolter), V. Stocker (X. Shaqiri), E. Derdiyok

Referee M. Stamatis (Cyprus).

Asst refs D. Touros, S. Nikita.

4th official M. Borg

Yellow cards S. von Bergen, S. Grichting, M. Mifsud, A. Schembri, S. Lichsteiner,