MALTA-LITHUANIA   2-0

Malta: J. Haber, A. Muscat (E. Herrera), A. Agius, P. Fenech (R. Scicluna), C. Failla (J. Zerafa), R. Briffa (B. Kristensen), M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (A. Effiong), R. Muscat (A. Schembri), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat

Lithuania: E. Gertmanas, L. Klimaviciks (T. Kidanjkas), G. Freidgemas, D. Cesnauskis (V. Andruiskevicius), E. Vaitkunas, D. Matuleviciks (L. Spalvis), S. Mikoliunai, V. Lukja (S. Stankevicius), V. Slivka (R. Baravykas), M. Kuklys (G. Sirgedas), M. Panka

Referee: S. Bindels (Luxembourg)

Scorers: P. Fenech 62, A. Effiong 80

Yellow cards: G. Freidgeimas, D. Matuleviciks

Attendance: 950

 

Silvio Vella

 

Two well taken second half goals by Paul Fenech and Alfred Effiong helped Malta to win this friendly test against Lithuania, 49 places above us in the FIFA rankings, watched by only a few hundreds at the National Stadium.

The goals apart, the match was a page of blank notes and it would be a struggle to remember too many other incidents, except perhaps Lithuania’s best chance in the opening second half when Matuleviciks arrived fractionally late on Lukja’s low cross from the right and the same player accidentally blocked his team mate Mikoliunai’s goal bound effort.

The first half was extremely dull, lacking any form of wit or creativity, with both sides showing no apparent desire to raise the temperatures and both goalkeepers were seldom troubled but play slightly improved after the interval.

The game was not entirely pointless bearing in mind Malta have a Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria next Friday. Lithuania, still with an outside chance to qualify, will play Switzerland next in Group E.

Pietro Ghedin’s selection for this test match was hampered by the unavailability of keeper Andrew Hogg, defenders Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg and Steve Bezzina as well as midfielder Ryan Fenech. The not fully fit Andre Schembri was rested for the upcoming competitive match, althoughh making a late appearance for the final three minutes.

But the return of the likes of Michael Mifsud and Alex Muscat in the starting line-up somehow compensated for these absences.

Malta’s makeshift defence included Justin Haber in goal, with Ryan Camilleri partnering Andrei Agius in central defence. Zach Muscat and Clayton Failla were the wide backs. Wing back Alex Muscat provided extra cover on the right and spent more time in  defence rather than going forward.

Defensively, the Maltese were good and Lithuania were allowed very few openings in the first half. They forced a couple of corners and keeper Haber had to palm out a dangerous inswinger after 20 minutes. Midway through the half, Vaitkunas tested the Malta keeper with a low free kick from a distance.

Roderick Briffa occupied the deepest role in midfield and took advantage to shuttle forward in possession. His tendency to  move upfield, meant other midfielder Rowen Muscat dropped in to cover. Together with his Birkirkara team mate Paul Fenech, they showed good understanding to hold their position as Malta’s midfield trio showed some fluidity.

But Briffa, Muscat and Fenech are similar footballers, box-to-box midfielders who primarily offer industry. Malta lacked a genuinly creative player in the centre and Andrew Cohen struggled to show his natural inventive against tougher opponents, with the result that captain on the night Michael Mifsud was starved of service in attack.

The Sliema forward provided a rare moment of excitement past the half hour when he ran through on the right and sent a diagonal shot that beat the stretched Lithuanian keeper Gertmanas but missed the target by inches.

A spree of substitutions for both sides in the second half did little to enliven the occasion but enabled coach Ghedin to try different options. Edward Herrera replaced Alex Muscat and Bjorn Kristensen went in for Briffa in an advanced midfield role. For the last half hour Alfred Effiong partnered Mifsud in attack, as Cohen was withdrawn.

Soon after the hour, Malta broke the stalemate. Paul Fenech picked a defensive clearance, off a Briffa corner from the right, on the edge of the Lithuania area and unleashed a drilling a shot at the top right hand corner.

Remaining fully in control and also because the Lithuanian reaction never materialised, Malta even doubled their advantage ten minutes from the end, hitting their opponents on the counter. Alfred Effiong took the ball in his stride, galloped down the left, then cut through the middle to beat keeper Gertmanas with a dipping stunning shot from a distance – his first goal for the national team upon his third appearance.

This deserved win will help instill a feel-good factor in the Malta clan and this will be particularly important against opposition of a higher quality in a more high-tempo match next Friday. Bulgaria will surely be a tougher test!