An early banal goal after just four minutes paved the way for an Austrian win against an improved Malta side yesterday in Klagenfurt.
Stoke City striker Arnautovic made the most of a silly mistake by Bonello and Agius to open the scoring and Schopf was on target in the 18th minute. A late own goal by substitute David Alaba provided Malta with some consolation although it was deserved after a good second half performance.
It was a real pity how we conceded that first goal. But I must ask why do we continue gifting our more illustrious opponents with goals that should never have been scored? It is definitely in such instances that we have to improve – how right national coach Pietro Ghedin is when saying that we cannot give away so many gift goals.
Otherwise it was certainly an encouraging performance – especially by the defence – after the 6-0 drubbing against the Czech Republic last Friday.
Ghedin made only two changes to the team that lost 6-0 to the Czech Republic on Friday. Ryan Camilleri started the match instead of Cain Attard in defence, while Jean Paul Farrugia took the place of Alfred Effiong in attack.
On his part, Austrian coach Marcel Koller had a full squad at his disposal, but at the start, he did not make use of Bayern Munich star flank midfielder David Alaba who was on the substitutes’ bench.
Malta could not have had a worse start, Bonello and Agius combining to gift a very soft goal after just four minutes, bringing on fears of another disastrous performance as that of last Friday. It was not only an unexpected goal at that stage, but one which should have been avoided with the least effort.
But after suffering a second goal and despite the almost continuous onslaught by the Austrians, the Maltese managed to hold on with Bonello never again being tested seriously as Gatt Baldacchino, Agius and Muscat started to cover well at the back.
In the second half, Malta’s play improved considerably with England based Gambin showing that he is bound to become a permanent fixture in our national team
Austria took an early fourth minute lead as a banal mistake by goalie Bonello and Andrei Agius paved the way for Austria’s win. The goalie put pressure on Agius as he passed the ball to the central defender in the centre of the area instead of kicking it far away. Agius tried to dribble round Arnautovic but lost the ball and the Stoke City striker had no problem in finding the net with Bonello still out of position.
Later, Bonello had to rush out of his charge to thwart Junuzovic and Klein, but the home side scored a second in the 18th minute. It was Schopf who dribbled round Camilleri to beat Bonello with a low shot.
In the 26th minute, from a Junuzovic corner, Janko’s header finished just over.
Two minutes later, in Malta’s first move forward, Briffa set Farrugia, but Austrian goalie Lindner rushed out of the area to clear the ball away. A few minutes later, Briffa tried a long distance effort which went over the bar.
Austria started the second half on attack and Schopf had a good effort going just wide in the 57th minute.
In the 62nd minute, for once, the ball favoured Clayton Failla who advanced on the left side of the Austrian area, only to see his shot just missing the target.
In the 75th minute, Briffa set Failla on the edge of the area, but the latter’s shot was blocked by an Austrian defender.
Two minutes from the end, Malta pulled back one goal even if it was a classic own goal from Byaern Munich star David Alaba whose bad pass to the goalie finished well behind the goalline.
Soon after, it was goalie Bonello who avoided an Austrian third goal blocking a close range effort from Hinterseer.
And in added time, Alaba tried to compensate for his previous error, but his shot went over the bar.