A brave and gallant display from the Malta side was not enough for Malta to gain its first point in this qualifying group. Malta certainly deserved more from this game, surely the best game played so far by Malta in this group. But luck was surely not on our side yesterday.

After taking the lead following a very good start, Malta had full control of the game only to suffer to late goals in the first half, the first from an unlucky own goal, and the second from a penalty which should have easily been avoided.

Malta could have equalised immediately but Matthew Guillaumier hit the crossbar and in the second half Malta continued to attack but then suffered a third goal, the best of the game and the Ukrainians settled the issue.

Ukraine could have scored further goals in the dying minutes but Bonello made a couple of good saves to avoid an even harsher punishment. This was an impor‐ tant victory for Ukraine who are now in second place in the group as European champions Italy suffered a 3‐1 defeat at Wembley, were malta will end its commit‐ ments in this group in a month’s time.

After the harsh critics addressed to Mar‐ colini after the opaque performance in Bari the Malta side had a very good reaction and showed very good football, but in the end there was no reward for the locals.

Marcolini made four changes from the ini‐ tial line up that faced Italy in Bari and took a deserved lead on 13 minutes when Guil‐ laumier passed to Nwoko who passed to‐ wards Paul Mbong who advanced to fire home past Trubin.

Ukraine were not settled and although they put some pressure on the locals they rarely tested Bonello. Then on 38 minutes Camenzuli slipped in an attempt to clear pushing the ball past a helpless Bonello.

Five minutes later Joseph Mbong was rather clumsy in his tackle on Mudryk with the referee awarding a penalty which Bonello almost saved on Dovbyk. Four minutes later again luck turned its back on Malta when a brilliant Guillaumier effort smashed against the crossbar.

In the second half Malta went all out on the attack and had a couple of good op‐ portunities but somehow they always missed the final pass. Then four minutes from time Mudryk sealed the issue with a brilliant goal, the best of the evening.

In the remaining minutes Ukraine went close a fourth goal but it would have been very harsh punishment on the boys in red.