Early goals foil Malta
Macedonia 2Malta 0\nThe inexperience of Malta's new U-21 team was fully exploited by Macedonia yesterday in Kicevo. Determined to erase the memories of a 5-1 rout by Malta U-21s at the Hamrun Ground a few years back, a result which caused a stir in the...
Macedonia 2
Malta 0
\nThe inexperience of Malta's new U-21 team was fully exploited by Macedonia yesterday in Kicevo.
Determined to erase the memories of a 5-1 rout by Malta U-21s at the Hamrun Ground a few years back, a result which caused a stir in the former Yugoslav Republic, the Macedonians quickly capitalised on the early Maltese jitters with two goals inside 14 minutes which effectively killed off Malta's hopes of recording another positive result.
Yesterday's game marked Mark Miller's official debut as the new U-21 coach and the Englishman will have noticed that the newcomers to the Malta squad, the likes of Shaun Tellus, Ryan Mintoff and Ian Azzopardi, looked raw and not fully prepared to cope with the aggressive demands of U-21 international football. This was their first proper match at this level and one hopes that they will improve as the UEFA U-21 qualifiers gather momentum.
For now, Miller can take heart from the assured performances of Gareth Sciberras, who exuded confidence especially when switched to the libero position, Jonathan Bondin and Brendon Zammit.
The game was barely eight minutes old when Macedonia skipper Naumov rode a tackle from Mintoff before he let fly a rasping shot that beat Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber hands down. Valletta's Bondin fashioned Malta's first attempt, shooting just wide of the far post.
In their next attacking foray, after 13 minutes, Macedonia doubled their account. Fakic linked up exquisitely with Gligorovski who laid the ball into the path of Apostoloski. The Macedonian midfielder had the easiest of tasks to tap the ball home with the Maltese defence at sea.
Two goals down inside 14 first half minutes had the Maltese team in a state of disarray and Despotovski came close to adding to Malta's misery with a dipping shot that Haber palmed away for a corner.
On the other hand, Zammit's swerving free-kick eluded a phalanx of defenders before the ball was cleared for a corner. On 29 minutes, a low drive by Etienne Barbara was saved by Pacovski.
On 32 minutes, Malta's hopes of clawing back into contention were lifted by the dismissal of Macedonian striker Baldovaliev for a crude tackle on Clifton Ciantar. Ciantar had originally been positioned at left back but then swapped positions with Ian Azzopardi who started the game as a left sided midfielder.
Malta were more enterprising in the last quarter of the first half but their efforts failed to worry the opponents defence. Macedonia's coach Odzakov effected five substitutions at the start of the second half while Miller replaced the injured Ciantar with Birkirkara's Clint Micallef.
Substitute Bozinovski threatened to seal the game beyond any reasonable doubt with a powerful curling shot that whizzed past the post.
Hertha Berlin's Nedzipi dallied around a posse of Maltese players 16 minutes into the second half but his low shot was deflected for a corner.
Until then, Malta had been the livelier side but they failed to make inroads on their opposition, mostly due to their erratic passing especially in the final third of the pitch.
Barbara, who looked uneasy in an advanced role in support of Antoine Zahra, Malta's lone striker, then made way for Andrew Cohen.
In another dangerous Macedonian counter-attack Nedzipi forced Haber into a fine save with a powerful shot.
Cohen, put through by Zammit, was unlucky not to pull a goal back when his chip dropped inches wide.
The graft and craft of Bondin helped Malta to gain an edge in midfield but the team's forward play remained largely ineffective as Macedonia easily held on to their 2-0 lead.
Late News
Saviour Darmanin, Malta's reserve goalkeeper is nursing a shoulder injury which could rule him out of this evening's match. Justin Haber, who played for the Malta U-21 yesterday, has joined the senior squad to provide cover if Darmanin is declared unfit.
Macedonia: T. Pacovski (E. Nuredinovski), I. Gligorovski (D. Zdravkovski), D. Lazareski (D. Ivanovski), H. Fakic, S. Georgiev (T. Meglenski), M. Stepa-novski, F. Despotovski, D. Apostoloski (B. Bozinovski), R. Naumov (A. Poposki), D. Masev (N. Nedzipi), Z. Baldovaliev.
Malta: J. Haber, G. Sciberras, C. Ciantar (C. Micallef), S. Tellus, R. Mintoff (R. Farrugia), J. Bondin (R. Bajada), K. Sammut, B. Zammit (C. Cassar), A. Zahra (S. Bajada), E. Barbara (A. Cohen), I. Azzopardi.
Referee: I. Selja (Macedonia).
Scorers: Naumov 8th; Apostoloski 13th.
Yellow Cards: Zammit, Bondin, Bajada.