Malta rue defensive mistakes

Malta 1
Cyprus 2

Driving into Ta' Qali after watching our squash team demolish Cyprus 5-0 in the Games of the Small States of Europe, I conjured up visions of another fine evening for Malta, this time on the pitch of the National Stadium.

It was not to be, though, as for the umpteenth time, Malta were left to rue two costly defensive lapses that gifted Cyprus two goals in a narrow 2-1 win.

Malta's seventh defeat in as many EURO 2004 qualifiers will not assuage the cynicism surrounding the national team but Sigfried Held's team cannot be faulted for not trying.

The odds were firmly stacked against them when goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin was expelled - harshly in the opinion of many - for a tackle on Michael Konstantinou after 21 minutes. The ensuing penalty was put away by the Cyprus striker.

With that episode coming so early in the match, it was inevitable that the complexion of the game would change. The contest seemed as good as over when Cyprus, aided by further naive defending from the hosts, doubled their lead, but Malta's late flourish, inspired by the incoming Gilbert Agius, had the opponents on the rope. Malta did pull a goal back but there was little time left to salvage a draw.

Reaching Higher, the GSSE 2003 Malta official song, was played over the National Stadium's PA system before yesterday's qualifying match.

The national euphoria triggered by the fine performances of several Maltese athletes has been a feature of these Games and one hoped that this enthusiasm would act as a spur for Malta's football ambassadors in their bid to enhance the national team's failing reputation.

Brian Said evaded a potentially dangerous situation for Malta when chesting away for a corner Konstantinos Charalampidis's free-kick after five minutes. Cyprus enjoyed more possession in the initial exchanges but failed to make any significant inroads into the Maltese defence.

After 13 minutes, David Carabott, yesterday playing his 117th match for Malta, delivered an inviting cross towards the centre where Luke Dimech flicked it on for Chucks Nwoko, whose header ended wide of the far post.

Seven minutes later Malta, now pushing forward with more intensity, won a corner thanks to Michael Mifsud's perseverance. Dimech's in-swinger was somehow smothered away by Nikos Panayiotou, the rebound fell to Said who blasted the ball high.

Cyprus wasted no time in getting the ball forward, catching the Maltese defence on the wrong foot as Vella, under pressure from Ioannis Okkas, miscued his header towards the goalkeeper.

Konstantinou was quick to retrieve possession, speeding forward unimpeded but out came Darmanin to halt the Cyprus striker's stride. Darmanin's intervention was deemed illegitimate by Austrian referee Bernhard Brugger, who pointed to the spot and brandished the red card to dismiss the Pietà goalkeeper.

Darmanin, awarded a rare first-team start ahead of Mario Muscat, could not hold back his tears as he walked towards the tunnel.

Nwoko followed him into the dressing rooms as Sigfried Held threw in Muscat instead of the Birkirkara skipper. Muscat could do nothing to stop Konstantinou's kick from the penalty mark.

Despite this setback, Malta's players stuck valiantly to their task, striving hard not only to keep their opponents at bay but to pose some problems of their own in attack.

They were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area for a foul by Okkarides on Mifsud. Mallia curled his shot high.

The hopes of clawing back into contention were dashed when Cyprus doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half. Malta gave away possession deep in their own half, Okkas nodded the ball past two Maltese defenders and into the path of Konstantinou, who despatched a low shot past Muscat.

Two-nil down and playing with ten men, it was hard to envisage a recovery from Malta against opponents who were more efficient than spectacular.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Malta threatened to narrow the deficit when Dimech's free-kick from the right was headed into the path of Giglio whose strike from point-blank was blocked by Petros Konnafis.

At the other end, a thunderbolt from Okkas forced a fine save from Muscat, who tipped the ball away for a corner.

Held tried to infuse some creativity into Malta's play by introducing Agius for the subdued Mallia. Moments after his entrance, Agius combined with Giglio but the latter's drive was saved by Panayiotou.

Malta stirred and their renewed efforts were soon rewarded with a goal. The clock marked 28 minutes of the second half gone when Agius sent in a teasing free-kick, Dimech's strong header defied the Cyprus goalkeeper's desperate attempt to keep the ball out with Giglio on hand to continue the ball's trajectory into the net.

Chants of "Malta, Malta" coursed through the National Stadium as the crowd recognised the efforts of the players to beat the odds, despite the difficulty of their task.

Agius's entry had clearly lifted Maltese spirits as he quickly imposed his talents on the match, much to the discomfort of the Cyprus team.

William Camenzuli was also doing his part with some powerful runs through the middle and down the flanks.

A glancing header by Giglio was saved by Panayiotou five minutes from time. Held then played his last card by bringing on Daniel Bogdanovic instead of sweeper Said as Malta laid siege to their opponents' goal.

Bogdanovic's inviting cross was headed towards goal by Mifsud but Panayiotou blocked.

That was that and Cyprus breathed a huge sigh of relief when the referee signalled the end of the match.

Malta: S. Darmanin, W. Camenzuli, S. Vella, D. Carabott, B. Said (D. Bogdanovic 85), L. Dimech, N. Turner, S. Giglio, M. Mifsud, G. Mallia (G. Agius 67), C. Nwoko (M. Muscat 22).

Cyprus: N. Panayiotou, P. Konnafis, D. Daskalakis (S. Foukkaris 66), M. Ilia, M. Satsias, I. Okkas (Y. Yiasoumi 80), M. Konstantinou C. Michail, S. Okkarides, K. Charalampidis (A. Garpozis 90), M. Christodoulou.

Referee: B. Brugger (Austria).

Scorers: Konstantinou 22 pen., 53; Dimech 73.

Yellow Cards: Vella; Christodoulou; Konstantinou; Muscat.

Red Card: Darmanin 21.