Malta succumb to Hungary's pace in second half

Hungary 4
Malta 0

Malta exhibited both its nice and ugly face yesterday in succumbing to a 4-0 defeat to Hungary in a World Cup qualifier.

A positive first half was only stained by a soft goal from the erstwhile lethargic Hungary. Despite trailing to Sandor Torghelle's debatable opener, Malta's sound organisation and good passing suggested that a decent result to go with their 1-1 draw with N. Ireland in a friendly last month was not an impossible dream.

A lively start to the second half will have increased Malta's optimism of building on their momentum in the opening 45 minutes.

However, a second goal from Hungary just 12 minutes after the change of ends imploded Malta's resistance into debris of helplessness as the fired-up Hungarians went on to run rings around our tiring players.

Although Hungary's hopes of battling their way back into contention in the group are at best remote, their desire to re-establish themselves as a leading football nation ensured a fully committed build-up for this match.

The prospect of taking on a much tougher proposition when Sweden come to town on Wednesday will only have fuelled Lothar Matthaeus's resolve to steer his team to a morale-boosting result yesterday.

Eight of the 11 players making up Hungary's starting line-up ply their trade in overseas leagues, the most notable being Crystal Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly and strikers Zoltan Gera, of West Brom, and Torghelle who is engaged with Panathinaikos in Greece.

The absence of Michael Mifsud (injured) and the unavailable Luke Dimech left keeper Justin Haber as the only foreign-based player in the entire Malta squad. Haber has recently signed for US Quevilly in France. In the absence of team captain Gilbert Agius, yesterday serving a one-match ban, the onus of skippering the team fell on Brian Said.

As the two teams ambled out of the tunnels of the Ferenc Szusza Stadium, home to FC Ujpest, the fans created a clattering noise by banging together inflatable tubes offered by electronic company LG, Hungary's main sponsors.

Dispersed among the thousands of Hungarian fans were some 20 Maltese, including five Floriana FC supporters spearheaded by Mark Piscopo and the inimitable flag-waving Carmelo Borg, the Mondial tour leader. The U-21 squad were also there to encourage their colleagues.

Within 15 seconds of the initial whistle, Hungary had the Malta defence under pressure, Krisztian Kenesei thumping a shot over the bar.

Malta's first shot at goal came from the feet of Massimo Grima but Kiraly was not stretched.

A free-kick from sharp-shooter Kenesei was fisted away by Haber and a header from Torghelle sailed over as the hosts toiled to unbalance Malta's well-drilled 4-5-1 formation.

A dipping shot from Laszlo Bodnar sailed dangerously towards goal but Haber saved well.

On 24 minutes, Andrew Cohen supplied an intelligent reverse pass to Roderick Briffa who played in the path of Orosco Anonam inside the box but the Sliema midfielder's effort was parried by Kiraly.

Malta were now producing some lively football but their momentum was shattered when Hungary seized the lead after 34 minutes.

A good run by Peter Halmosi on the left caused some panic in our defence, his teasing cross just evaded the sliding Torghelle. This was the pre-amble to the breakthrough. Malta partially cleared a corner from Kenesei, the ball ran towards Zoltan Boor whose speculative shot was deflected into the path of Torghelle in a dubious offside position. The flag stayed down though and the Hungary forward had an easy task to bury the ball home.

Haber kept Malta in the game when pushing away a goalbound effort from Kenesei.

Malta looked to have overcome the shock of conceding an opener when they least expected it but on the stroke of half-time, they were lucky when Boor's shot on the turn cannoned off the crossbar. Mind you, the red-clad Maltese players did not deserve to concede a second goal on the back of their performance in the first half.

Six minutes into the second half, Cohen took his time to control the ball on the edge of the box before teeing up Grima whose rasping drive was too central to trouble Kiraly.

At the other end, Torghelle got on the end of a cross from Bodnar but his flick hit the post.

Horst Heese made his first substitution nine minutes into the second half, taking off defender Scicluna for Antoine Zahra. The players were still re-organising their defensive set-up - Wellman was moved from left-back to centre-half - when Boor broke away on the right and Said's belated attempt to clear the ball ended in his own net.

The sense of security that comes from doubling your advantage gave Hungary fresh stimulus to turn on the heat on the fading Malta side by pushing incessantly down the flanks.

Haber distinguished himself when saving from Kenesei but he was beaten for the third time on 64 minutes by Takacs's piledriver from 30 metres.

With the three points secured, Matthaeus's team shifted to cruise control and managed to widen their lead with five minutes of the game remaining.

Haber had been prominent with a bold save from Bodnar but the Maltese goalkeeper was punished for his lack of height when substitute Peter Rajczi headed home a corner from Akos Buzsaky. In stoppage time, Buzsaky's rising shot skimmed the bar.

Aftermatch comments...

HORST HEESE conceded that Hungary's second goal was the turning point of the match.

"That goal killed us," he said, "and after that we could not find our feet. The players lost confidence whereas Hungary grew in composure.

"Their pressure in the second half exposed all difficulties in our team - lack of speed, power and endurance. Then it was just a case of avoiding a disastrous result."

LOTHAR MATTHAEUS was delighted with his players' performance.

"I am satisfied that the team played with plenty of commitment from the start till the end of the game," he said.

"We have a young team here but if we continue on these lines the Hungarian national side will improve.

"Malta tried their best in defence but it was difficult to hold us from scoring more goals in the second half. One other important aspect of these type of matches is that they serve to strengthen the rapport between the fans and the national team."

Players' ratings

Haber-6.5, Scicluna-5.5, Wellman-7.5, Briffa-7, Said-5.5, Grima-6.5, Pullicino-6, Mattocks-6, Cohen-6, Woods-7, Anonam-6.5.

Subs: Zahra-5; Sammut-5; Ciantar-no vote.

Hungary: Gabor Kiraly, Laszlo Bodnar, Peter Halmosi, Roland Juhasz, Vilmos Vanczak, Akos Takacs, Zoltan Boor ('57 Szabolcs Huszti), Tamas Hajnal, Sandor Torghelle, Zoltan Gera ('75 Akos Buzsaky), Krisztian Kenesei ('68 Peter Rajczi).

Malta: Justin Haber, Kenneth Scicluna ('54 Antoine Zahra), Stephen Wellman, Roderick Briffa, Brian Said, Massimo Grima ('65 Kevin Sammut), Peter Pullicino, Claude Mattocks, Andrew Cohen ('84 Ian Ciantar), Ivan Woods, Orosco Anonam.

Referee: Vitali Godulian (Ukraine Fa).

Scorers: Torghelle '34; Said '57 O.G.; Takacs '64; Rajczi '85.

Yellow Cards: Haber; Pullicino; Takacs.

Attendance: 5,000.