A Michael Mifsud Euro goal – the equaliser – was not enough to give Malta its first victory in this qualifying group, but at least it gave us the satisfaction of earning a first point.
There was a big sigh of relief at the end of the match as Buttigieg’s broke the jinx which seemed to have hit the side – twice they were close to getting a draw against Georgia and Greece, only to lose in the final moments.
Buttigieg made only one change to the side he had started the match against Croatia with. Valletta defender Jonathan Caruana was returning to central defence at the expense of Manny Muscat. Caruana had to withdraw from the squad against Croatia due to a bout of ’flu.
The coach had dropped the Birkirkara duo of Trevor Cilia and Joseph Zerafa yesterday morning as he trimmed the squad to 18 players.
In the second half, Daniel Bogdanovic made a welcome return to the side. The new Blackpool FC striker had missed the match against Croatia as he was finalising his deal with the seasiders.
In the first half, play was more or less balanced but Malta seemed to be more dangerous up front, especially when Mifsud had the ball at his feet. The great goal he scored confirmed his class.
Malta played much better than it did against Croatia. One admired the way they played the ball from defence to midfield and then to attack, even if Andre Schembri seemed to be out of form at present. Some of his passes went astray and his finishing (at least one attempt) finished well wide of the post.
Georgia, perhaps, enjoyed a little more possession, but they had little to show for all their endeavour. Of course, they found a solid defence blocking their way, as Malta defended in an organised manner.
The pattern did not change much in the second half with Georgia holding an edge in midfield, but with Malta being more dangerous in their counter-attacks.
At the end, the Maltese players certainly deserved the applause of all those present.
Malta threatened to take the lead on 11 minutes. Cohen worked a good ball on the right, then passed to Schembri who transferred the leather to Mifsud. The City striker then saw goalkeeper Revishvili effecting a great save as he flew sideways to palm the ball to a corner.
But it was Georgia who took the lead on 15 minutes. From a Martsvaladze cornerkick, Kankava headed home, the ball hitting the post and dropping well inside the line.
Malta equalised on the 24th minute. It was a Euro goal. Briffa set Michael Mifsud on the edge of the area; he sent his opponent the other way and fired a fine right footer into the top left hand corner giving the Georgia goalie no chance.
On 34 minutes, a dangerous cross by Martsvaladze was excellently dealt with by goalie Hogg.
Immediately afterwards, a fine Malta move involving Cohen and Briffa ended with the latter crossing in the area where Andrei Agius saw his header saved by Revishvili.
On the 44th minute, Hogg was again a protagonist as he turned to corner a Martsvaladze angled shot.
On the 51st minute, Hogg dived sideways to turn to corner a Iashvili shot.
On the 67th minute, it was substitute Bogdanovic who tried his luck from 30 metres, but the goalie managed to turn the ball to corner.
Malta tried again on 77 minutes. Mifsud set Hutchinson who, however, saw his shot going wide.
At the other end, soon after, it was Hogg again who dived to save a low shot from Dvalishvili.
With seven minutes to go, Hogg again saved the day for Malta palming the ball out off a Kobakhidze shot.
Malta A. Hogg, J. Caruana, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, R. Fenech (D. Bogdanovic), R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (I. Woods), J. Hutchinson, A. Schembri (J. Pace), C. Failla.
Georgia N. Revishvili, J. Kankava, G. Kashia, G. Grigalava, K. Kaladze, Z. Khizanishvili, L. Kobiashvili, O. Martsvaladze (S. Grigalashvili), J. Ananidze (A. Kobakhidze), A. Iashvili (V. Dvalishvili), D. Targamadze.
Referee Paulus van Boekel (Netherlands)
Asst refs Rob HAM van de Van, Angelo Boonman
4th official Richard Liesveld
Scorers Kankava 15, Mifsud 24,
Yellow cards Z. Khizanishvili, G. Kashia, A. Hogg