Late first-half goal foils Malta

A Guillermo Israilevich goal one minute into first-half added time denied a spirited Malta side from gaining its first point in the European U-21 Championship qualifying Group One as Israel beat the locals 1-0 in a quiet encounter at the National Stadium.

For all the effort and commitment throughout the 90 minutes, the Maltese certainly did not deserve to finish on the losing end.

Mark Miller's boys showed great discipline and organisation in defence with Etienne Barbara producing a commanding performance. However, the inexperienced hosts showed the same kind of frailties seen last month in Slovenia when the team came to construct attacking moves.

Andrew Cohen, despite closely supported by Roderick Briffa, seemed too isolated up front while the Maltese players' passing in that final part of the pitch was far from precise.

With a game against the French, losing finalists in the previous edition, looming large the team's forward play is one department Miller must look on to improve.

Even though played in an almost empty stadium, the match was staged under strict security with several police officers patrolling all corners of the stadium.

Miller, yesterday making his competitive home debut as U-21 coach, fielded a defensive formation with Floriana's Barbara assigned the sweeper role behind Ian Azzopardi, Shaun Tellus and Clifton Ciantar.

Gareth Sciberras, so influential for Pietà Hotspurs this season, was installed in front of Malta's defensive line. Jonathan Bondin and Kevin Sammut were deployed in midfield with Clint Micallef and Briffa trying to support Cohen as much as they could.

In the opening exchanges, the Maltese seemed more focused to avoid suffering an early goal rather than creating any goalmouth action themselves. After 15 minutes Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber was forced to make an instinctive save to fist away an Eli Biton close range effort after a Salem Abo Siam cross.

Malta's first attempt at goal arrived on the half hour when Briffa tried to surprise goalkeeper Yossef Shekel, who was out of position, with a tentative shot from 40 metres which, however, was blocked by the Israeli no.1.

Six minutes from the break Malta survived a scare when Biton was released by Israilevich but his low shot skimmed Haber's post.

As the match seemed heading to a goalless draw at half-time, the visitors struck.

A Yaniv Luzon free-kick was half-cleared by the Maltese rearguard, the ball fell into the path of the effective Israilevich whose low shot made it through a posse of players before rolling past the helpless Haber.

On resumption, the Maltese showed a more offensive mentality and in the opening ten minutes they twice went close to restore equilibrium.

First, on 48 minutes Shaun Bajada created space for himself on the right. His cross was misjudged by Shekel with the ball finishing at Sammut whose lob was somehow cleared off the line by Tal Ben Haim.

Seven minutes later, Barbara picked up Briffa brilliantly but the Birkirkara midfielder saw his effort finishing just wide.

On 66 minutes, Israel could have doubled their advantage when Barukh Degu broke free on the left and his cross found Israilevich who headed over from a good position. Haber needed the aid of the bar to stop a thunderous Yaniv Lunov drive.

Miller then roped in Antoine Zahra and Brendon Zammit in place of Cohen and Ciantar to add more weight to his attack. Thirteen minutes from time Sciberras tried his luck from outside the area but Shekel was well positioned to neutralise.

The Maltese players continued to venture forward but they were rarely dangerous on Shekel's goal as the Israeli defence held tight to open their commitments on the right footing. It was Malta's second 1-0 upset in the group.

Malta 0
Israel 1

Malta: J. Haber, S. Tellus, I. Azzopardi, E. Barbara, G. Sciberras, J. Bondin, K. Sammut, C. Micallef (S. Bajada), A. Cohen (A. Zahra), R. Briffa, C. Ciantar (B. Zammit).

Israel: Y. Shekel, Y.K. Moosa, S. Abo Siam (O. Afir), G. Cohen, T. Ben Haim, R. Gazal (M. Ohayon), Y. Luzon, G. Israilevich, B. Degu, F.E. Barda, E. Biton (Y. Shivon).

Referee: Kostadin Kostadinov (Bulgaria).

Scorer: Israilevich 45th.

Yellow Card: Gazal.