Joseph Mbong scored a great goal on 58 minutes to give a superior Malta side a more than deserved victory over Gibraltar in a friendly match played at Ta' Qali stadium yesterday.

Malta dominated the game for long stretches with Gibraltar always on the defensive. Coach Marcolini wanted positive signs from this friendly ahead of our next match in the Euro qualifiers against North Macedonia next week and against Italy and Ukraine next month, and he surely should be satisfied with what the boys in white offered on Wednesday.

Against a packed defence Malta had full control of the possession of the ball but could not pene‐ trate a well organised five‐man defensive set up. It is here that the Maltese were found wanting as they did not have that punch inside the penalty area, with Montebello and Degabriele forced to play outside the area as they rarely had a glimpse of goal from within the area.

In the second half the Malta side completely outclassed Gibraltar who were only saved by a string of very good saves by their goalkeeper. Malta’s custodian, Henry Bonello, who was returning to competitive football after his injury against Ukraine last June, had only one shot to save, just before half time, making a great save to keep his net intact.

Goalkeeper Coleing was almost deceived on six minutes off a Montebllo drive and minutes later he was almost beaten by a Degabriele dipper, but he managed to scramble the ball to safety. Malta’s best move in the first half came on 35 minutes when Montebello was put through by Shaw but his cross towards Degabriele was intercepted by Chipolina.

Just before the break, Steve Borg gave away the ball and De Barr, Gibraltar’s best player, almost put the ball at the back of the net, but Bonello saved the day for the locals.

On the resumption Malta went all out on the offensive and were rewarded on 58 minutes when Joseph Mbong scored a beauty with a first‐time effort from the edge of the area.

Malta continued to dictate with the Gibraltar custodian under constant pressure. malta won several; corners, and some of these created havoc in the Gibraltar defence, but the ball just could not be squeezed in.

Ten minutes from time Coleing made his last and arguably best save denying Nwoko from another great goal for the Maltese.

Malta: H. Bonello, Camenzuli, K. Shaw, S. Borg, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong (J. Corbalan 87’), B. Kris‐ tensen (Y. Yankam 76’), E. Pepe (J. Borg 62’), J. Degabriele (P. Mbong 62’), J. Jones (T. Teuma 62’), L. Montebello (K. Nwoko 76’)

Gibraltar: D. Coleing, J. Ser‐ geant (A. El Hmidi 80’), B. Lopes (E. Jolly 57’), L. Walker, N. Hart‐ man (L. Casciaro 72’), R. Chipolina, A. Mouelhi, K. Roman (E. Santos 72’), T. De Barr, E. Britto, N. Pozo

Yellow cards: T. De Barr, N. Hartman, E. Pepe

Scorer: J. Mbong 58’ (M)

Referee: Miloš Bošković (Mon‐ tenegro)