On 87 minutes Malta was still winning 2-1 against Faroe Islands but in the remaining minutes Bonello suffered two goals as Malta had to leave Torshavn with yet another defeat.

This was certainly a harsh verdict for the boys in red led for the first time by Devis Mangia. Malta had a shaky start and suffered for the first 20 minutes, but then they took control of the game and held the upper hand for long stretches, turning the tide in their favour with two well taken goals.

But then the final minutes washed away all that was deservedly obtained. Now we face Latvia on Sunday at Ta’ Qali and Mangia has to rebuild confidence in the players who surely did not deserve such a defeat.

Malta started with Borg, Muscat and captain Agius, with Camenzuli and Mbong on the flanks. Pisani, Guillaumier and the omni-present Gambin played behind the striking tandem of Nwoko and Degabriele.

The first open chance of the match came for our opponents when Zach Muscat lost an important ball on the half way line, giving way to their fast break with Hendrikkson all alone in front of goal, but his point bank effort was blocked by Bonello.

Faroe Islands held the ball for long stretches with the Maltese finding it hard to win and keep possession of the ball. On 22 minutes our three-man defensive set-up was caught napping with Bjartaljo missing a sitter in front of goal with the ball just missing the base of the upright.

The goal was in the offing as the Maltese were feeling the pressure and Vantnahamar’s cross was not intercepted by Steve Borg and Klaement Olsen anticipated Mbong to head home past Bonello.

On the half hour from a corner action Andrei Agius was pushed off the ball but the referee failed to award the penalty. This was a good patch for the Maltese, holding the ball for long stretches and pressing the opponents in their own half. Gambin tried his luck from a distance but the shot was too easy for Nielsen.

On 37 minutes Malta deservedly drew level with a slick move on the left between Camenzuli, Degabriele and Nwoko, with Nwoko’s cross met by Gambin who stopped the ball for Degabriele who placed the ball at the back of the net with a precise grounder.

The Maltese were now all over the place, brimming with confidence and dominating the remaining minutes. Two minutes from the break Guillaumier rocketed from a distance with Nielsen somehow managing to send the ball to a corner.

Eight minutes into the second half Hendrikkson had an effort going over the bar and sixty seconds later the Maltese had a lucky escape when Mbong, in an attempt to clear, saw his shot hitting the crossbar with Bonello completely beaten.

Two minutes later some breathing space for the Maltese with Gambin having a good shot blocked by Nielsen. After that lucky escape Malta was back in control of the game and on 72 minutes Malta took the lead. Gambin floated a precise freekick and Andrei Agius unmarked on the far post, first-timed beautifully home.

Faroe Islands failed to react with the Maltese in control till the 80 th minute when a Camenzuli lost ball almost led to their equaliser with Bonello making two outstanding saves. On 87 minutes Faroe Islands drew level when Andreas Olsen beat Bonello with a low shot from just inside the area..

It was a severe blow for the Maltese but the worse was yet to come as on 90 minutes Hendrikkson scored a beauty direct from a freekick with the ball finishing in the top corner of the net.