MALTA-AZERBAIJAN 2-2

Malta turned around an insipid first half performance to come strong in the second and score twice, through Michael Mifsud and Alfred Effiong, to cancel Azerbaijan’s first half lead and put themselves in front, only to succumb to Azeris’ late equaliser and settle for a draw, This was  Malta’s second point gained in this European Qualifying campaign and the first on home soil.

Malta’s approach before this match had been to take at least one scalp from a qualifying section which has been riddled with disappointment. It was, nonetheless, impossible to ignore the magnitude of this encounter against opponents four points and a place above us in Group H.

But things looked far from rosy during the first half. It was that lack of tempo by the Maltese which was so difficult to fathom. They could not even muster a shot on target and superior Azerbaijan richly deserved their first half lead through Amirgullyev after 35 minutes.

Malta’s starting line-up might have raised a few eyebrows, but coach Pietro Ghedin kept to his promise of playing a more offensive game when he included both Alfred Effiong and the returning captain Michael Mifsud together in attack from the start, aqlthough Effiong played wide on the right in midfield. With Paul Fenech suspended, Ryan Camilleri played as left back and Clayton Failla advanced in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Rowen Muscat and Roderick Briffa providing cover to the back four whenever the Maltese lost possession.

Azeris’ coach Robert Prosinecki made two changes from the side that drew at home against Croatia last week, dropping Mori and Yeini, to be replaced by Dashdemirov, deployed as an advanced wide back and Taghiyev in front of him, both on the left flank. The Malta defence had to deal with some insidous  high crosses in the initial stages and conceded  a couple of unwanted corners as Azerbaijan  started with more purpose, in stifling heat at Ta’Qali national stadium.They showed superiority in possession, with Malta mostly chasing their opponents.

And giving away possession cheaply whenever they did have the ball, Malta failed poorly to offer any real threat for the first 45 minutes. Mifsud’s incursion was blocked, Failla fired over from a distance and Mifsud failed to control Alex Muscat’s cross from the right.

Past the half hour, after Schembri failed to hook Mifsud’d cross, Malta were caught off balance. Azerbaijan soon capitalised on a fast break. Nazarov played the ball wide on the right to the advancing Ismayilov whose cross was laid by Gurbanov in the path of the unmarked  Rahid Amirguyalev to shoot low past keeper Hogg, with the ball taking a slight deflection.

Malta showed better intent after the interval and the strong support, who had been noticeably subdued, was finally handed cause for optimism.

Ten minutes into the second half, Schembri intelligently intercepted an Azeri square pass in midfield, advanced and played the ball to Effiong who resisted his opponent’s challenge inside the area, passed it out to Michael Mifsud to hit in a flying shot from outside the area.

The equaliser demanded an instant response from Azerbaijan. On the hour, Hogg tipped Ismayilov’s shot over the bar into a corner, before Mifsud was replaced by Andrew Cohen and Effiong moved as central striker.

On 64 minutes, Azeris should have restored the lead. A headed pass by Taghiyev, off an Ismayilinov cross, presented Gurbanov with a clear chance. But keeper Hogg pulled a smart save, providentially blocking the powerful shot, thumping the ball off the bar.

But Malta managed to go in front for the first time in the match on 71 minutes. Azerbaijan’s central defender Huseynov was beaten to the ball by the onrushing Alfred Effiong, as he tried to clear a Schembri long ball, and the Malta striker beat keeper Agayev with a left foot drive.

Azerbaijan surely were surprised by Malta’s reaction. Inevitably, Prosinecki’s next move was to turn to substitute Araz Abdullayev to provide a pair of fresh legs on the right flank. The involvement of the winger did add some spark to the Azerbaijan attack and Malta defender Camilleri was at pains to control his runs as, on 79 minutes, Hogg had to stretch himself to turn his effort into a corner.

Joseph Zerafa replaced Camilleri but with ten minutes remaining the dangerous Gurbanov beat the Malta offside trap, advanced down the left and crossed low for Rahid Amirgllyev to place the ball beyond the stretched keeper Hogg’s reach and restore equlibrium.

Steve Pisani also replaced Failla in the closing stages as Malta held on to a deserved point, if anything for their remarkable comeback in the second half.

Malta: A. Hogg, A. Muscat, A. Agius, C. Failla (S. Pisani), R. Briffa, M. Mifsud (A. Cohen), R. Muscat, A. Schembri, S. Borg, R. Camilleri (J. Zerafa), A. Effiong

Azerbaijan: K. Agayev, G. Garayev, M. Mirzabekov, B. Huseynor, R. Gurbanov, D. Nazarov (R. A. Sadygov), R. F. Sadygov, R. Amirguliyev, J. Taghiyev, A. Dashdemirov, A. Ismayilov (A. Abdullayev)

Referee: H. Lechner (Austria)

Scorers: R. Amirguliyev 35, 80, M. Mifsud 55, A. Effiong 71

Yellow cards: A. Effiong