Malta-Denmark 1-2
Malta: J. Haber, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, C. Failla, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud (T. Vella), E. Herrera (A. Cohen), A. Schembri, J. Mintoff (R. Fenech), R. Muscat, R. Camilleri.
Denmark: S. Andersen, L. Andreason (S. Casper), S. Kjaer, D. Agger, N. Boilesen, L. Jacobsen, WK Jorgensen, C. Eriksen, M. C. Braithwaite (V. Fisher), N. Pedersen, R. Falk (M. Krohn-Dehli).
Referee: A. Sidiropoulos (Greece)
Asst refs: C. Baltas, M. Karsiotis
4th official: I. Spathas
Scorers: L. Andreasen 2, C. Failla 38, R. Camilleri o.g. 52,
Yellow cards: A. Agius, R. Briffa, J. Mintoff, T. Vella
Lucky for Denmark – unlucky for Malta. A 52nd own goal by Ryan Camilleri yesterday paved the way for the Danish victory against Malta at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium.
The Hibernians defender was very unlucky to have seen a shot that hit the crossbar also hitting his back and rebound into the net.
It was an unfortunate moment for Malta as a minute earlier, they had a Michael Mifsud header hitting the crossbar with Danish goalie Andersen beaten.
The defeat leaves Malta at the bottom of the standings with three points while Denmark have joined Albania and the Czech Republic on nine points.
To the surprise of many, Ghedin included two relative newcomers in the starting line up, that is, John Mintoff and Rowen Muscat, while leaving seasoned campaigners Paul Fenech and Andrew Cohen on the substitutes’ bench.
The Malta side was missing the services of central defender Luke Dimech and right flank defender Alex Muscat.
In the first half, Malta had a somewhat difficult start. In fact, they had not yet settled down when Denmark were already in the lead.
The Danes maintained the upper hand in midfield, but the Maltese started regaining confidence and were well organised at the back.
As time went by, Ghedin’s boys improved considerably and also had their chances before the boys in red eventually equalised.
And they could also have snatched the lead as Mifsud missed a very good chance near the end of the half.
In the second half, Malta was brave to push forward in attack in search of another goal. But quite unluckily, the goal arrived at the wrong end and our boys never recovered from that setback, even if they fought gallantly all the way, searching for a second equaliser till the very end.
The victory gives the Danes some hope of being able to make it to the Brazil finals next year.
The Danes controlled the match in midfield, but on such form, they will certainly have to show a lot of improvement to get the points they need from their remaining matches.
Morten Olsen’s boys could not have had a better start when in the second minute they took the lead. From a Braithwaite cross, the ball went to the completely unmarked Leon Andreasen who beat Haber with a hard low shot.
Denmark threatened again on the 10th minute when off another Braithwaite cross, it was Falk who failed to make contact in front of Haber.
Malta’s first action arrived on the 17th minute. From a Briffa cross, Lars Jacobsen headed badly backwards. Andre Schembri went in for the killer touch from the angle, but goalie Andersen just managed to block to corner.
In the 24th minute, it was Eriksen who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but the ball went wide.
Malta went close to an equaliser on the 36th minute when Andre Schembri advanced only to be stopped by an Agger tackle. Michael Mifsud, close to the action could hit the ball first time, but goalie Andersen saved the day for the Danes, blocking to a corner.
Two minutes later, however, it was 1-1. And what a goal it was! Malta was awarded a freekick on the edge of the area and Clayton Failla gave Andersen no chance with a fine rising shot to the top corner.
In the 44th minute, as Malta pushed forward, it was Mifsud who advanced unhindered in the area on the right flank, but instead of passing to the completely unmarked Edward Herrera, he preferred to have a pot at goal himself, lifting the ball well over the bar.
Malta was again very unlucky not to take the lead on the 51st minute. From a Roderick Briffa cross, Michael Mifsud’s header beat Andersen but hit the crossbar.
The goal, quite unluckily, arrived at the Malta end a minute later. It was Eriksen who entered the area and rounded Haber before firing a shot that hit the underpart of the crossbar and rebounded into the net off Ryan Camilleri’s back.
In the 56th minute, substitute Krohn Dehli tested Haber, but the Malta goalie was equal to the task punching the ball away to safety.
In the 66th minute, Mifsud received a good pass from Schembri, advanced and dribbled round a defender only to place his shot millimetres wide of the post.
Haber then had to save a low central shot from Eriksen and until the end, despite Malta’s efforts, Denmark held on confidently never going through any difficult moment at the back.