Malta suffered three goals in the second half as Croatia grabbed the second consecutive victory in the group. It was arguably the most difficult match for the Maltese who fizzled out gradually after suffering the first goal.

Malta held its ground in the first half, but in the second half, as Croatia introduced their big guns, the game tilted completely in their favour. Coach Dalic fielded a completely different team from the one fielded against Cyprus in the last outing, but then in the second half introduced the likes of Modric, Perisic and Brekalo, who scored the goals that mattered.

Coach Devis Mangia made only two changes from the side that faced Slovakia, with Steve Pisani and Bjorn Kristensen playing instead of Luke Gambin and Paul Mbong.

Malta played well in the first half, with Mbong testing Livakovic, and the Maltese denied from a clear penalty for a Juranovic handling infringement.

However on the resumption the Maltese rarely ventured forward and the world cup finalists showed all their worth, winning convincingly.

Croatia were immediately dangerous after barely 2 minutes play, when Vlasic’s shot from an ideal position went slightly off target.

Malta’s best chance of the match arrived in the 11th minute, when the Maltese lodged a quick counter-attack, but Joseph Mbong’s shot on target was saved by the goalkeeper Livakovic.

The Maltese were denied a clear penalty on 19 minutes, when Juranovic was evidently seen handling the ball in the area, but depsite the Maltese’s protests, the 32-year-old referee didn’t entertain the idea.

The second half started out in the same fashion as the first, with the Croatians on the offensive.

The four substitutions affected by Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalić at the beginning of the second half had a favourable impact on his side’s offensive efforts, as all three goals were scored by substitutes.

The Maltese were rarely allowed outside their area in the second portion of the encounter, and had to spend most of the time on the defense.

Croatia had their first shot on target just three minutes into the second half, when Jurenovic crossed towards Vlasic, whose low shot from inside the area was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Bonello.

Malta’s hopes for a favourable result away in Rijeka were dented on 62 minutes, when substitute Barisic crossed to the other side towards Perisic, also a substitute, whose low effort from very close range went past Bonello to open the scoring.

The penalty which was not awarded to Malta in the first half was handed to the Croatians on 75 minutes, amidst protests from the Maltese players. For what appeared to have been a handling in the area by Kurt Shaw, Swiss referee Tschudi pointed towards the spot. Croatia’s specialist, Luka Modric, didn’t miss for Croatia’s second goal, and his 17th with Croatia’s national team.

Malta suffered a third goal shortly before the final whistle, when Perisic crossed towards Brekalo who was unmarked on the other side of the box, and who had no difficulty to tap the ball between the empty posts and at he back of the net.

Malta will be back in action for the World Cup qualifiers in September against Cyprus.