Agius wonder strike hands Malta perfect anniversary gift

Malta 1
Austria 1

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Optimism in a fairy tale ending to Malta's jubilee celebrations was indeed sky-high at the end of the first half of an interesting match yesterday. Driven by a desire to make their own indelible mark on local football folklore, Malta's elite players warmed to the task of crowning the 50th anniversary of the country's international baptism with gusto.

A spectacular goal from Gilbert Agius after eight minutes laid the platform for Dusan Fitzel's men to outshine the Austrians who came into the match on a three-game winning run. Such was Malta's superiority in the opening 45 minutes that the only surprise was that the home team were only leading 1-0 at half-time.

Sound tactical discipline, commitment and a fearless approach, epitomised by the vintage Michael Mifsud, were the hallmarks of Malta's brisk first-half display. These qualities continued to serve the team well in the second half, especially after Austria briefly threatened to punish a difficult moment by the hosts following a somewhat fortuitous equaliser soon after the restart.

Although Malta's second-half performance failed to reach the heights of the opening 45 minutes, the hosts deserved to finish the match on a par with the Austrians, a result which should enrich their morale ahead of next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Moldova and Greece.

For all the publicity afforded to Malta's 50th anniversary match, only a few thousand fans turned up at the National Stadium.

The starting line-up named by national coach Dusan Fitzel offered no surprises as Terrence Scerri was roped into the side to fill the void left by Andrè Schembri.

Scerri was Malta's point of reference in attack as Mifsud, yesterday gracing the stadium for the first time since his switch to Coventry City last month, was granted freedom to roam behind the team's sole striker.

Only two minutes of the game had elapsed when Justin Haber was forced to make his first save of the evening to stop an effort from Thomas Prager after a scurrying overlap by Austria captain Andreas Ivanschitz.

When the stalemate was broken after eight minutes, it was the home team that drew first blood. And what a goal it was.

George Mallia's corner was half cleared by the Austrians but the ball dropped into the path of captain Agius who summoned a thumping shot that blazed past Jurgen Macho.

The Valletta livewire celebrated his eighth goal for Malta by kissing the Maltese cross on his commemorative shirt as he ran towards the home bench.

Four minutes after that goal, Briffa, yesterday deployed at right-back, avoided a potentially dangerous situation when tracking back to slide the ball away from the advancing Roland Linz.

An excellent move by Malta, involving no fewer than five players, should have procured a second goal midway through the half.

After Agius, Mallia and Mifsud had exchanged quick, accurate passes to find a way through, Mifsud strode forward on the right before crossing for Kevin Sammut. The Marsaxlokk midfielder evaded a tackle before cutting the ball back for Jamie Pace whose sizzling grounder grazed the far post.

A second goal would not have been undeserved as the Reds were by far the brighter side whereas Austria just could not infuse a semblance of fluidity in their play.

Mallia was an enterprising figure on Malta's left flank, Pace and Agius worked like Troyans in midfield and Mifsud was his usual busy self, running here, there and everywhere in pursuit of openings.

It was after 33 minutes that Austria created a decent attacking move but Ivanschitz overhit his pass to Linz in the Malta box.

Austria's increasing pressure brought them a series of set-pieces but every time the ball was delivered inside the Maltese area, Haber and company repelled the danger.

Four minutes from the break, Joachim Standfest dashed past Wellman and laid the ball back for Rene Aufhaser whose shot drifted wide of the far post.

Agius's participation was cut short by injury a minute from half-time. He was substituted by Gareth Sciberras.

In next to no time, Mifsud was off on one of his bewitching runs, ball glued to his dancing feet, but his rising effort was deflected over the bar.

He was at it again a few seconds later, this time creating havoc in the Austria defence with a diagonal run from the right but his attempt ricocheted off Martin Hiden's outstretched legs.

The half-time whistle was followed by an appreciative applause from the home crowd, which included among others Archbishop Paul Cremona and several former Malta players who were involved in the nation's first international match against Austria in 1957.

On that occasion, Tony Cauchi and Sammy Nicholl struck in the final stages of a 3-2 defeat for Malta. Fifty years on, hopes of averting defeat against Austria looked promising indeed after Agius's goal.

Barely three minutes of the second half had passed when Sanel Kuljic burst through Malta's defence before being thrown off balance by Dimech. Malta sighed with relief when Swiss referee Carlo Bartolini indicated that the foul was committed outside the penalty area.

Malta's reprieve was short-lived though as Ivanschitz's free-kick took a deflection off the wall and the ball rolled past the wrong-footed Haber and into the net.

Mifsud would have re-established Malta's lead when finishing off another jinking run with a ferocious shot but Siena goalkeeper Alex Manninger, a half-time replacement for Macho, denied him with a tipping save.

At half-time, Fitzel effected his second substitution, bringing on Ian Azzopardi for Brian Said. Azzopardi positioned himself on the left side of Malta's four-man defence as Wellman was moved into the centre to take Said's place.

A mix-up between Azzopardi and Dimech almost gifted Austria a goal but Haber spared his team-mates' blushes by smothering the ball away.

There was improvement in Austria's attack in the second half. Their forceful marauding down the flanks and more off-the-ball movement by their forward personnel turned the heat on Malta but to no avail.

As the minutes rolled by, Fitzel's men came through their nervy start to the second half to share the exchanges with their opponents.

The level of the expectancy among the Maltese fans rose late on when Mifsud dispossessed Gyorgy Garics close to the halfway line and surged forward but the Malta striker took a touch too many instead of serving a better-placed team-mate.

Malta: J. Haber ('69 A. Hogg), S. Wellman, B. Said ('46 I. Azzopardi), R. Briffa, L. Dimech, G. Agius ('44 G. Sciberras), K. Sammut ('86 I. Ciantar), M. Mifsud, G. Mallia ('78 A. Cohen), T. Scerri ('65 I. Woods), J. Pace.

Austria: J. Macho ('46 A. Manninger), J. Standfest ('77 Y. Sariyar), M. Stranzl, M. Hiden, A. Ibertsberger ('46 C. Fuchs), R. Aufhaser, T. Prager ('46 M. Kiesenbner), M. Weissenberger ('66 G. Garics), R. Linz ('73 M. Akagunduz), A. Ivanschitz, S. Kuljic.

Referee: Carlo Bartolini (Switzerland FA).

Scorers: Agius 8; Ivanschitz 48.

Malta players' ratings

Haber-6.5, Wellman-5.5, Said-6, Briffa-6, Dimech-7, Agius-7, Sammut-7, Mifsud-8.5, Mallia-7, Scerri-5.5, Pace-7.

Subs: Sciberras-6; Azzopardi-5.5; Woods-6; Hogg-6.

Aftermatch comments...

Dusan Fitzel was happy the Maltese had avoided defeat on a special anniversary day. The performance was not perfect, he said, but satisfactory.

"This was a good match for Malta against strong opponents like Austria," Fitzel told reporters. "My players ran a lot and created good scoring chances but, unfortunately, we only scored once tonight.

"The result is not bad and that shows the team is on the right track. However, there were some mistakes during the match which I did not like. The progress is steady but we still have some aspects of the game to improve upon.

"I was pleased with the movement of most players particularly the ones on the flank - George Mallia and Kevin Sammut."

Focus now shifts on the match against Moldova next month.

"When the draw was made," Fitzel said, "I told the players that against Moldova we had our best chance of winning points.

"The draw with Austria gives us hope but we must keep our feet to the ground. As I said, we still need to work hard to get another positive result in the group qualifiers."

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger said he was disappointed with the result and even more with the performance of the team.

"There was no cohesion in our game," he said.

"But I have to give due credit to the Maltese. From what I've seen tonight, Malta has indeed made a significant step forward. I think they have reached the middle level of European football."