Malta-Croatia 0-1

Malta: A. Hogg, J. Zerafa, A. Agius, C. Failla, R. Briffa (P. Fenech), R. Muscat, A. Schembri (A. Cohen), S. Borg, B. Kristensen, A. Effiong (M. Mifsud), Z. Muscat

Croatia: D. Subesic, I. Perisic, V. Coprluka, I. Rakitic (M. Brozovic), M. Pjeca (I. Olic), D. Srna, N. Kalinic (A. Kramaric), M. Badelj, M. Kovacic, D. Vida, J. Pivaric

Referee: M. Clattenburg (England)

Scorer: I. Perisic 25

Yellow cards: M. Badelj, C. Failla, I. Perisic

Attendance: 5,825

Thanks to this narrow and uninspired win against Malta, as well as Norway’s defeat by Italy, Croatia are assured of automatic qualification to Euro 2016 finals in France as Group H runners-up.

Croatia’s decisive goal was scored on 25 minutes by Inter’s forward Ivan Perisic, who made the best of Pjaca’s cut-back cross towards the middle of the Maltese area, and when Kalinic slipped, Perisic hit on the volley, the ball taking a deflection to go past keeper Hogg’s reach.

And although Croatia were mostly dominant in possession and superior in technique, they could not add further goals, with prudent Malta defending diligently and enjpoying more of possession than they did against Norway three days earlier.

But a win was what Croatia wanted, hoping that Norway will not beat Italy, and they got it, even though for long stretches, their fate looked destined for a play-off as Norway was leading Italy in the other important match from the same Group.  Finally Italy won 2-1.

Coach Pietro Ghedin made two alterations to the Malta line-up that lost to Norway as Joseph Zerafa started instead of the unfit Alex Muscat and Bjorn Kristensen, a late substitute in Oslo, replaced Paul Fenech in midfield.

Croatia made only one change from the team that comfortably beat Bulgaria 3-0 on Saturday, as coach Ante Cacic had to do without the injured Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, replaced by Milan Bedelj of Fiorentina. Modric however was named among the substitutes. Duje Cop was suspended for this match.

With Malta staying composed, defending with five at the back and two – Roderick Briffa  and Rowen Muscat – in front of them, Croatia started at a very slow pace as the Maltese were stifling their momentum. Still, the visitors made more of the attacking.

A jagged run inside the Malta box by Kalinic after ten minutes, had keeper Hogg blocking his close range shot as the Fiorentina forward lofted the loose ball.

Malta started to move out of their defensive shell towards the quarter hour. Briffa found an opening but his shot from the edge of the Croatia area went over.

And on 21 minutes, as Effiong chased a long ball inside the Croatia area, keeper Subasic seemed to make a slight contact with the Malta forward who fell in the process but play went on uninterrupted.

Midway through the half, the Maltese defence was caught on the hop for the first time in the match, allowing Perisic to put Croatia in front as news from Rome revealed that Italy were trailing by one goal to Norway.

After falling behind, Malta strained to match the offensive verve of the visitors.

Kristensen and Schembri often struggled to get a foothold in midfield as Rakitic and Perisic started to combine to some telling effect.

On the half hour, Pjeca was left unattended inside the Malta box as he controlled a Rakitic cross, but failed to put his effort on target.

However Malta managed to make it to the break without further damage.

Croatia needed a second-half improvement like the ones that they had mustered several times already in this campaign. But Malta started brightly and a Failla shot from outside the area did not trouble keeper Subasic.

Yet Croatia continued to mount the more menacing raids. Towards the hour Pjeca’s cross from the byeline on the right had keeper Hogg beaten, but Zerafa just denied Perisic from tapping the ball over the line, deflecting into a corner.

After that, the Malta shot-stopper fisted out another insidious Pjeca cross from the right.

Substitute Andrej Krameric was introduced for Kalinic for Croatia moments later. They kept passing the ball in restricted spaces, pushing Malta further back, although the locals closed in well and even had their moment on 65 minutes. Schembri persisted with possession from midfield and when he played the ball forward for the advancing Effiong, the Croatia goalkeeper reached ahead of him.

That was the last Effiong saw of the ball as he made way for Michael Mifsud for the last quarter hour. Paul Fenech also replaced capatin Roderick Briffa after that.

Croatia’s fate turned to the better as Italy overturned the result against Norway in the late stages, and automatic qualification was finally secured.

Photos Jonathan Borg