Malta 1
Croatia 3
Michael Mifsud scored Malta’s first goal on home soil in this qualifying round yesterday, but it was not enough to deny Croatia a deserved victory.
In fact, Malta remains bottom of the group without any points from the seven matches played.
It was a deserved victory for the Croatians who enjoyed territorial superiority throughout the 90 minutes even if Malta also had its chances, especially in the first half, before Mifsud scored that goal.
Coach John Buttigieg could not have started the match with a better formation than the one he selected. It included the foreign-based Manny Muscat and John Hutchinson, as well as Andrei Agius and Andre Schembri. Michael Mifsud also recovered from a hamstring injury to start the match.
On his part, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic could afford the luxury of leaving Tottenham star midfielder Luka Modric on the bench. Yet his formation included players of the calibre of goalkeeper Pletikosa, defender Corluka, midfielder Vukojevic, Srna and Mandzukic as well as striker Klasnic.
In the first half, especially in the opening 20 minutes, Croatia held the upper hand. They went in search of an early goal and after getting what they wanted, they controlled midfield, helped by a strong defence. They appeared strong in every department and when they scored a second goal, it seemed already over.
But Malta was not staring at them. In fact, Mifsud and Hutchinson both went close to levelling the score before Croatia scored again. Then justice was done as Mifsud hit home Malta’s goal eight minutes from the interval.
In the second half, the visitors again sought an early goal and created a couple of good chances before Lovren eventually scored their third goal on 67 minutes.
That proved to be the end. Despite their efforts, Malta failed to make further impact on the strong Croatians.
After three minutes, a Srna freekick was cleared to corner by Hogg.
A minute later, it was Mandzukic who tried his luck for the visitors, but his shot went wide.
Croatia were rewarded for their early efforts as they opened the scoring on the 10th minute. Strinic crossed from the left, Hogg punched the ball out but it went straight to Vukojevic’s feet, who slammed it home from the edge of the area.
Soon after it was Croatian goalie Pletikosa who denied Mifsud from scoring a quick equaliser.
On 16 minutes, Ryan Fenech provided an excellent pass to Michael Mifsud who breasted the ball down only for Pletikosa to rush out of his charge to save.
On 22 minutes, Malta went close to levelling the score. Mifsud worked a good ball upfield, his effort was blocked out to Hutchinson whose shot from just outside the area just missed the upright.
On the 29th minute, Croatia threatened seriously to increase their tally through a Srna freekick which went just wide with Hogg completely beaten.
Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Klasnic feinted, completely deceiving the Malta defence and allowing a free entry into the Malta area for Badelj who had no difficulty in beating Hogg.
Malta were back in the match on the 37th minute, when Roderick Briffa set Mifsud on the edge of the area. He brushed off a tackle by a defender and beat Pletikosa with a low shot. It was our first goal at home in this competition.
As the second half started, Croatia almost scored. It was Mandzukic who set the completely unmarked Kalinic, but Hogg brought the house down with a magnificent save.
Soon afterwards, from a Srna cross, Mandzukic’s header hit the crossbar to the relief of the Maltese.
Malta replied with a good move involving Schembri, Mifsud and Agius, but the latter was anticipated by Corluka who sent the ball to a corner.
Strinic then had a shot going well over the bar and as Croatia pressed harder, it was no surprise they scored a third goal on 67 minutes. From a Badelj cross, it was Dejan Lovren who headed home past a surprised Hogg.
On 83 minutes, Mandzukic missed a clear goal opportunity for Croatia. After bypassing two Malta defenders, he hit wide with only goalie Hogg to beat.
Four minutes from the end, Malta could have scored a second. It was Ryan Fenech who provided the pass to substitute Ivan Woods, but the latter’s effort just missed the target.
In added time Kalinic missed another sitter, hitting the side netting when ideally placed.
Malta: A. Hogg, M. Muscat, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, R. Fenech (C. Mamo), C. Failla, R. Briffa (J. Pace), M. Mifsud (I. Woods), A. Cohen, J. Hutchinson, A. Schembri.
Croatia: S. Pletikosa, I. Strinic, D. Lovren, V. Corluka, M. Badelj (E. Da Silva), O. Vukojevic, D. Srna, M. Mandzukic, I. Klasnic (N. Kalinic), I. Perisic (T. Dujmovic), S. Vrsaljko.
Referee: T. Chapron (France).
Asst refs: E. Boisdenghien, F. Harchay.
4th official: F. Fautrel.
Scorers: Vukojevic 10, Badlej 32, M. Mifsud 37, D. Lovren 67,
Yellow cards: R. Fenech, M. Mandzukic, S. Vrsaljko, C. Failla
Attendance: 6150