Malta 0

Sweden 1

Malta suffered its second consecutive defeat at home yesterday evening as Sweden emerged 1-0 winners to join Slovenia at the top of the standings.

In a match dominated by the Swedes, it was captain and best player Jiloan Hamad who scored what proved to be the winner on 37 minutes.

The defeat left Malta on five points and there now seems to be little hope of improving on their position till the end of the campaign.

In the first half, Sweden exercised territorial superiority and it was no surprise that they eventually took the lead eight minutes from the interval.

They were a technically and physically superior side but until that goal arrived, the Maltese were giving a good account of themselves, especially at the back, where Yessous Camilleri and Zach Muscat dominated the central approaches.

The Maltese were forced on the defensive for long stretches as Hamad, Jonsson and Addarevic dominated midfield. When our boys attacked, on most occasions, they lost the ball quickly to their more alert opponents.

The second half followed the same pattern of the first with the Swedes in control of midfield and with the locals failing to get to grips with the situation and struggling to move forward against very strong opponents.

Despite their domination, the Swedes could not add more goals to their tally, either because of the inspiring form of goalkeeper Sultana who thwarted them on at least a couple of other occasions, or because of their own inefficiency.

Sweden went close on the 4th minute, but it would have been a gift from goalie Sultana who fumbled an easy ball, allowing Hamad to shoot only for the ball to just miss the crossbar.

In the 17th minute, Jonsson went past three Maltese defenders, but on the point of shooting, it was Martinelli who cleared to corner, avoiding an awkward situation for the locals.

A few minutes later, it was Addarevic who tried his luck from the distance, but his shot lacked any precision and finished well wide of the target.

At the other end, from a Terence Vella freekick, Malta appealed for a penalty when a Swedish player seemed to have handled the ball, but the Polish official, close to the action, waved play on.

Soon after, in a swift counter attack, Jonsson exchanged the ball with Hamad but Sultana saved the latter’s low shot.

Four minutes later, Sultana was the great protagonist as he brought the house down with a great save off a Hamad header from close in.

Moments later, Sweden opened the score. From the corner, taken by Addarevic, the ball was only partially cleared by the Malta defence and Hamad hit home a scorcher to the delight of the Swedish fans at the Hibs Stadium.

Four minutes from the interval, after Addarevic had a grounder saved by Sultana, it was Miguel Ciantar who hit badly when Swedish goalie Johnsson was well out of position. Thus Malta’s only chance in the first half went begging.

Before the interval whistle, it was again Sultana who saved Malta’s fort, blocking an effort from Jonsson.

In the 54th minute, Sultana again saved Malta’s fort, turning to corner a Hiljemark shot from the edge of the area.

Sweden insisted on attack and Jonsson and Armenteros both went close to scoring.

Malta managed to find the net through Rowen Muscat in the 74th minute, but the point was disallowed on grounds of offside.

Malta S. Sultana, L. Martinelli, Z. Muscat, R. Muscat, T. Vella, M. Ciantar (D. Falzon), Y. Camilleri, C. Borg (D. Grima), B. Kristensen, M. Gauci, S. Pisani (JP Farrugia).

Sweden K. Johnsson, J. Larsson, P. Jansson, J. Baffo, M. Albornoz, J. Hamad, O. Hiljemark, A. Addarevic, R. Jonsson, J. Guidetti, S. Armenteros (S. Andersson).

Referee D. Piasecki (Poland)

Asst refs M. Wiersbowski, M. Lis.

4th official M. Borski

Scorers J. Hamad 37,

Yellow cards P. Jansson, R. Muscat, L. Martinelli, R. Jonsson