LUXEMBOURG.......................... 0

MALTA ....................................... 1

 

Luxembourg: R. Schon (T. Pereira Cardoso 46’), T. Rupil (A. Curci 65’), G. Rodrigues, M. Olesen, C. Martins Pereira (D. Sinani 74’), L. Jans, M. Chanot (F. Lohei 65’), D. Carlson, Y. Borges Sanches (E. Dzogovic 74’), F. Bohnert (D. Jonathans 87’), L. Barreiro.

Malta: H. Bonello, F. Apap (J. Borg 82’), S. Borg, Z. Muscat, J. Bmong, R. Camenzuli, M. Guillaumier, Y. Yankam, J. Grech (B. Kristensen 46’), L. Montebello (K. Nwoko 46’), J. Jones, J. Mbong (J. Corbalan 76’)

Referee: Eldorjan Hamiti (Albania)

Yellow cards: J. Grech, L. Barreiro, S. Borg, T. Rupil, Z. Muscat, A. Curci.

Scorers: K. Nwoko 64’,

 

Malta obtained its first victory under the guidance of Michele Marcolini beating Luxembourg with a second half header by substitute Kyrian Nwoko.

This was also Malta’s first victory in nine months with the last  one in another friendly against Israel.

With seven days to go before the much awaited game agaisnt England at Ta’ Qali the Maltese were a transformed side in the second half, but gave a worrying display in the first fourty five minutes.

The two changes at the start of the second half immediately gave Malta a new lease of life with Nwoko also resulting in the match winner.

This was just a friendly, but against a higher ranked opposition, but a victory is always a victory and is the right tonic for the two forthcoming difficult matches Maslta faces.

But the second half performance was really re-assuring for Marcolini and his staff.

The first attempt at goal came on eight minutes when goalkeeper Bonello denied Rodrigues who had ample space to control and shoot from the edge of the area.

After his shot Luxembourg won a couple of corners with the Malta defence in difficulty from these set pieces.

On twelve minutes Malta’s first chance with Mbong passing towards Yankam, whose overhead kick went well over the bar.

Although not really dangerous Luxembourg kept the Malta defence under constant pressure with the Maltese unabe to move the ball forward and rarely venturing forward.

On 35 minutes Malta had a lucky escape when a  Rodrigues freekick smashed againt the crossbar.

For the second half Marcolini introduced Nwoko and Kristensen for Montebello and Grech.

Things improved in the opening minutes with a Jordi Jones freekick saved by Luxembourg’s substitute goalkeeper.

Jones went close again with a freekick destined for the top corner which was again brilliantly saved by Pereira Cardoso, but from the resulting corner on 64 minutes, Nwoko headed home Guillaumier’s corner.

This was a severe blow for Luxembourg as Malta was now playing much better and on 74 minutes Mbong had a good effort  from the far side going wide.

Three minutes later Jones missed a golden opportunity after a slick break by the Maltese.

In the last part of the match Malta had to withstand the pressure but was never really in danger of losing the precious lead.