A late defensive blunder punished Malta to another defeat against Estonia as our slim hopes of obtaining the much needed two-goal victoy vanished just before half time when Estonia were awarded a penalty and Jean Borg was sent off.

Ironically with ten men Malta played the better football and obtained the equaliser from another penalty in a match in which the VAR decisions took centre stage. Malta will thus remain in group D in the next edition of the Nations League and must now look forward on building on the good things shown not only yesterday in Tallinn, but in the whole four matches of this Nations League.

Coach Devis Mangia selected an offensive first eleven giving Jodi Felice Jones the chance to make the debut with the Malta national team. At the back Mangia opted for Cain Attard and Jean Borg to join Enrico Pepe.

Malta started aggressively in attack but had a lucky escape in the fourth minute when Vassiljev’s shot hit the base of the upright and from the rebound the ball somehow finished at the back of the net but Vastsuk had handled the ball over the goal line and the goal was disallowed aftre the usual providential VAR consultation.

On 15 minutes Bonello dived to save a Sappinen header and on 19 minutes Malta’s first attempt when Satariano passed towards Cain Attard who blasted over the bar and sixty seconds later a Camenzuli effort hit the side netting.

On the half hour Estonia had a Sappinen goal disallowed for offside and six minutes later a Vassiljev long range effort just missed the crossbar. In the stoppage time of the first half the incident that changed the course of the match when after another check with the VAR, Estonia were awarded a penalty and Jean Borg was sent off. From the penalty spot Sappinen fired in the top corner of the net.

For the second half Devis Mangia introduced Steve Borg for Jodi Felice Jones and on 49 minutes Malta drew level when following anothern VAR long consultation the German referee awarded Malta a penalty for a handling infringement. From the penalty spot Teddy Teuma, who missed a penalty against the same Estonia in Ta’ Qali, fired low into the net.

The match was balanced for the remaining minutes of the second half with Malta’s display improving a lot in this second part of the match. Then four minutes from time another defensive blunder punished Malta’s efforts with substitute Ainer advancing in open space and beating Bonello with a low drive.

 

Photo: Domenic Aquilina