Battling Malta falter after bright start

Bulgaria 4
Malta 1

For most of the first half, Malta lived a dream.

They led the highly-fancied Bulgarian team 1-0 after Michael Mifsud stunned the 19,000 fans at the Vassil Levski Stadium with a 13th-minute breakthrough. But two goals at either side of half-time shattered Malta's erstwhile vibrant performance as Bulgaria coasted home to a 4-1 victory to maintain their unbeaten start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Although the hosts were worth their victory, given their superior technical skills and athleticism, they were made to work hard for the three points by an organised Maltese team whose optimism only faded away after conceding two goals in critical moments of the game.

The 4-5-1 tactical formula, used for the first time last Saturday against Iceland, also worked against a Bulgaria team replete with foreign-based players. But in the end, the hosts' firepower in attack made the difference.

Notwithstanding the usual psychological and physical decline that followed Bulgaria's second goal, Malta ought to derive courage from another lively and battling effort.

In spite of the gulf in class, the red-shirted players did their best to get out of defence with purpose rather than resorting to long clearances in a fast-paced match that offered plenty of excitement from the outset.

Two minutes had elapsed when Dimitar Berbatov directed the ball into the net but the assistant referee raised his flag to signal an offside position.

From the likelihood of racing ahead, Bulgaria nearly found themselves a goal behind soon after.

A free-kick by skipper Gilbert Agius from the left eluded a clutch of defenders before reaching Michael Mifsud on the six-yard box. His close-range attempt was, however, blocked by Dimitar Ivankov in goal.

For the next three minutes, Bulgaria pummeled the Malta goal, going close to grabbing the lead through a Hristo Yanev scorcher, that rebounded off the bar, and two similar diagonal attempts by Valeri Bojinov which bounced wide.

Yet, it was Malta who punished Bulgaria's poor defending after 13 minutes. Stefan Giglio, a familiar name with Bulgarian fans following his spells with CSKA and Lokomotiv Sofia, delivered a perfect cross towards the centre of the box where Mifsud sped past his markers before lifting the net with a powerful drive.

Mifsud sprinted towards the corner flag to celebrate where he was joined by ecstatic team-mates and cheered by the 50-odd Maltese fans inside the stadium.

On 15 minutes, Justin Haber tipped away a Martin Petrov free-kick as Bulgaria toiled to redirect the pressure on Malta.

Haber experienced some tense moments as the probing Bojinov had an attempt deviated to corner.

In keeping with the frenetic nature of the opening exchanges, a typically pungent Malta counter-attack, initiated by Ian Azzopardi's timely clearance from the back, laid the platform for Mifsud and Giglio to wreak havoc in the opponents' defence before the ball was eventually belted out by Hristo Yankov.

Danger beckoned Malta on 25 minutes when, amidst a goalmouth scramble, Berbatov's effort was repelled by the attentive Malta defence, the loose ball fell at the feet of Blagoy Georgiev who chipped over the bar.

Minutes later, Georgiev turned provider when he crossed the ball towards Berbatov, lurking near the far post, but the effort drifted wide.

Eight minutes from half-time, another fluid Malta attack unnerved the Bulgarians as the dazzling Mifsud showed Ivaylo Petkov a clean pair of boots before serving Roderick Briffa whose cross was met by Ivan Woods but his header lacked power.

Bulgaria persevered with their attempts to break the Maltese resistance. Their efforts paid off on the stroke of half-time when the enterprising Petrov scurried down the left flank before sending in a cross towards the centre where Berbatov shrugged off his marker and headed past Haber.

Briffa was withdrawn at half-time. His place went to Antoine Zahra who assumed a wide role on the left of midfield while Woods took up Briffa's previous role on the right.

Two minutes into the second half, Maltese hopes receded when Bulgaria moved ahead for the first time in the game. They were awarded a free-kick on the three-quarter mark after Zahra was deemed to have fouled Georgiev. Yanev curled the ball past Malta's defensive wall and into the top left corner.

Stilyan Petrov, the Bulgaria captain, was cautioned for diving but the hosts had the three points secured 10 minutes into the second half.

A Woods' challenge on Bojinov outside the box was penalised by Welsh referee Ceri Richards. Yanev's pinpoint cross sailed in the direction of Berbatov who headed home.

With the Maltese now betraying signs of uneasiness in the face of Bulgaria's unrelenting pressure, the scenario suddenly turned dull for Heese's team.

As the minutes ticked away, it became increasingly evident that Malta were finding it hard to deal with Bulgaria's non-stop running and menacing crosses, never mind the freezing temperature in Sofia yesterday.

Malta still strove to get the ball forward with quick passes rather than hasty clearances. On one occasion, a cross from Agius looked to pose no danger for the incoming Rossen Kirilov but the substitute miscued his header, Mifsud was quick to pounce on the error but his drive was deflected for a corner.

Giglio's hard running epitomised Malta's unwavering commitment in seeking to bounce back into the game at a time when Bulgaria looked to have taken their foot off the accelerator. He won a free-kick from which Zahra tried to surprise Ivankov but the Bulgaria keeper scrambled to his right to parry the shot.

Four minutes from time, Ian Ciantar, a solid performer alongside his defensive colleagues, supplied an arching cross from the right, Sakaliev's headed clearance dropped Giglio's way but the ensuing grounder never troubled Ivankov.

Malta's gritty rally in the latter stages was spoiled when they conceded a soft fourth goal two minutes from time, Chavdar Yankov sliding the ball home from a Sakaliev pass to the delight of Hristo Stoichkov.

The popular Bulgaria coach was yesterday marking his official home debut.

Bulgaria: D. Ivankov, I. Petkov, H. Yanev ('72 R. Kirilov), C. Yankov, D. Berbatov, V. Manchev ('65 E. Gargorov), B. Georgiev, M. Petrov, S. Petrov, V. Bojinov ('68 S. Sakaliev), I. Stoyanov.

Malta: J. Haber, I. Ciantar, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa ('46 Antoine Zahra), B. Said, L. Dimech, G. Agius, S. Giglio, M. Mifsud, I. Woods ('75 P. Pullicino), C. Mattocks ('81 A. Cohen).

Referee: Ceri Richards (Wales).

Scorers: Mifsud 13; Berbatov 44, 55, Yanev 47, Yankov 88.

Yellow Cards: S. Petrov 53; Woods 66; M. Petrov 85.

HT: 1-1.

Attendance: 19,000.

Aftermatch comments...

Despite the 4-1 scoreline, Malta coach HORST HEESE still declared himself satisfied with the creditable showing of his players but rued the timing of Bulgaria's first two goals.

"I'm satisfied with the performance of the boys," he said.

"They did their best in this match and gave their all against a team brimming with professional players. Bulgaria have a great tactical set-up and that also helped them to victory today.

"I was disappointed, however, that we conceded goals in the worst moments of the game, just before half-time and soon after restart. I had full confidence in the players and always believed we stood a better chance of preserving our lead had we kept our opponents at bay a little longer."

Assistant coach Carmel Busuttil, was equally happy with the way the Maltese played in Sofia yesterday. Despite Dimitar Berbatov's equaliser on 44 minutes, he said the team's morale was still high at half-time. But Bulgaria's second goal, however, was a severe blow for the team.

"Before the game the players were high in confidence," he said. "They were still hyped up at the break notwithstanding Berbatov's goal when least expected.

"Their second goal was hard to take though but we're very satisfied with the team. At present, there's a good atmosphere in the squad, something we will seek to maintain in future."