Malta 0
Moldova 0
Malta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana (J. Grioli), J. Zerafa, A. Agius, C. Failla (R. Camilleri), P. Fenech (R. Scicluna), R. Muscat, A. Schembri (M. Mifsud), B. Kristensen (G. Sciberras), A. Effiong, Z. Muscat (S. Borg).
Moldova: A. Gaiduchevici, I. Armas, A. CascavaL, A. Epureanu (P. Racu), V. Bordian, A. Ionita, A. Cojocari, A. Gatcan, A. Antoniuc (M. Mihaliov), E. Sidorenco (A. Dedov), V. Cemirtan (R. Ginsari).
Referee: R. Taraev (Estonia).
Asst refs: H. Reinvald, A. Gatcan,
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann.
Yellow Cards: A. Effiong, A. Gatcan, A. Cojocari, A. Cascaval, M. Mifsud,
Malta and Moldova could not go beyond a goalless draw in a boring friendly match which must have proved useless for both coaches.
It was Malta’s first match in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers starting next September, but judging from this performance, then we will certainly face a difficult time once again.
It is true that the date of the opening World Cup qualifier is still far away, but one expected much better from this Malta side which national coach Ghedin said was his best since he took over the team for a second consecutive spell.
Goalkeeper Henry Bonello of Valletta was preferred by the Italian mentor – only his second start with the national team.
In the first half, apart from two early moves by Malta, there was nothing else to shout about. Play – most of it in midfield - was boring and neither team managed to enthuse the small crowd present.
There was perhaps more action in the second half, but the Moldovans remained the better team and also had the best chance of the whole match.
On the whole, the Malta team was disappointing. There was evidently no cohesion between defence, midfield and attack with several passes going astray.
At the start, Malta went on the offensive, and appealed for a penalty in the 10th minute when Effiong appeared to have been pushed in the area, but the official waved play on.
Soon after, from a freekick, the ball was passed to Fenech whose excellent shot forced the Moldovan goalie into a fine save, turning to corner with difficulty.
Moldova held a slight territorial advantage, but never tested Bonello seriously.
So much so that we had to wait till the 34th minute to see Moldova’s first effort towards the Malta goal – a Cemirtan shot from the edge of the area which was easily saved by the Malta goalie.
Five minutes later, Moldova were awarded a freekick, but Ionita’s shot from 25 metres went wide of the post.
No surprise that the scoresheet was still blank at the interval.
In the 54th minute, Moldova went very close to open the scoring. Bonello effected a useless sortie in the area and missed the ball. It went to Sidorenco who went past the Malta goalie only to see his shot being cleared off the line by Andre Agius.
Malta replied with an Alfred Effiong shot in the 57th minute which went over the bar.
On 62 minutes, it was Bonello who saved the day for Malta as he saved a Cemirtan shot – the latter had robbed a hesitant Steve Borg of the ball.
In the 65th minute, Andre Schembri crossed low for Paul Fenech, but the latter skied the ball from the edge of the area.
In the 70th minute, a Ionita shot was blocked to corner by Jonathan Caruana. At the other end, Gareth Sciberras had a good run from midfield, but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by a Moldovan defender.
Photos Domenic Aquilina