A fluke goal, another scored while a Maltese player was on deck with a back injury and a controversial penalty – coupled with a red card – helped Scotland to three points against a Maltese side that battled hard but threw in the towel after the third goal at the hour. Scotland added two more goals late in the game for a 5-1 score, but by then the match had been over for quite a while.
Scotland started the 2018 World Cup qualifier at Ta’ Qali with a Snodgrass goal after eight minutes, with the Scottish player attempting a cross which ended up at the back of the net, surprising Maltese keeper Hogg.
But the Maltese side was back in the game within four minutes, when Effiong headed home a beauty for a 1-1 draw that lasted till half-time. Scotland had the better possession and Snodgrass had a chance to give Scotland the lead, but his header was saved by Hogg on the goal-line.
The second half started with Scotland pressing the Maltese lads in their own half, but their second goal only came with Malta calling for play to stop as Andre Schembri lay on the field suffering a back injury. The Scots however played on and Chris Martin scored from close range on a low cross in the 53rd minute.
Malta’s woes were compounded on the hour when referee Yevhen Aranovskyy (Ukraine) pointed to the spot as Martin attempted a shot from close range with Maltese defender Jonathan Caruana right behind him. There appeared to be no contact but Snodgrass added a third goal from a penalty while Caruana was sent off.
At 3-1, and with Malta playing with 10 men, the match was effectively over. The Scots slowed down the game but added a fourth goal on 78 minutes with Steven Fletcher.
And there was still time for a fifth, with Snodgrass netting in an empty goal after Fletcher – who started the action in a dubious offside position – hit the crossbar.
Malta finished the game in nine men after Gambin was sent off in the 90th minute.
It was a cruel result, as the difference between the two sides was not so apparent until the penalty was given.
Photographs Domenic Aquilina