First-half goals punish wasteful Malta

Sheriff Sports complex - Tiraspol
Moldova 2
Malta 0

Malta failed to attain a psychological boost ahead of a tough-looking home friendly against Sweden next Tuesday after succumbing to Moldova in Tiraspol yesterday.

Two goals inside the opening 28 minutes all but secured the win for the hosts whose lithe forwards and wingers relied on fast build-ups to open up the Maltese defence.

Mark Miller's players enjoyed their bright moments but their hopes of making amends for a 4-0 defeat to Finland last month were hampered by wayward finishing.

The Maltese had to contend with an unexpected dilemma just over an hour before kick-off.

Upon arriving at the Sheriff Tiraspol sports city, located within an hour's drive from Chisinau, the U-21 contingent was told that because of the gusty winds, it would be better if the match was played indoors.

Initially, the Moldova officials left the decision on the venue to the Maltese delegation, headed by Malta FA senior vice-president Carmelo Bartolo.

After assessing the conditions at the ground, Miller and his players informed the organisers that they preferred to play outdoors but the Moldova officials then insisted that the match be switched to a safer indoor arena.

They argued that, as the wind was forecast to get stronger, the stadium manager could not guarantee the safety of the players and spectators if the match was held outdoors. This led the Maltese delegation to accede to the organisers' request.

Miller sent his team out in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Ian Zammit supported from the flanks by Ryan Fenech and Matthew Bartolo.

The match was nine minutes old when Moldova took the lead, Igor Costrov profiting from lax marking inside the box by heading home a cross by Igor Armas.

Malta recorded their first attempt at goal two minutes later, Dyson Falzon firing a shot that was saved by Ilie Cebanu. A minute later, Malta should have equalised when Edmond Agius's excellent cross from the right sailed invitingly towards Zammit but the Valletta striker headed straight at the Moldova goalkeeper.

The energetic Zammit then had a shot ending just wide.

Malta could have paid dearly for their missed chances as a cross by Artur Patras squirmed across the penalty area and towards Maxim Frantuz who hit the ball wide.

The game continued to ebb and flow, Zammit forcing a fine save from Cebanu with a diagonal header following an Agius pass.

Another chance for Malta went abegging on 27 minutes. Zammit forced his way past two defenders on the left before squaring the ball for Ryan Fenech whose grounder was saved by Cebanu.

Barely a minute later, Moldova doubled their lead, Mihail Turcan heading inside an empty net after his first attempt to lob the ball over the advancing Miguel Montfort had been sliced away by the Malta goalkeeper.

Moldova easily controlled Malta's attempts at intensifying their attacking endeavours in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

Malta squandered a good chance to get back into the match midway through the second half.

Bartolo showed neat footwork as he swept past a clutch of defenders before passing to the unmarked Falzon who failed to make contact with the ball.

Bartolo was at it again a few minutes later, again serving Falzon who drove just wide of the far post.

Malta were now making a contest of it but the goal that would have re-opened the issue just wouldn't come.

Moldova could have killed off the game had Iuri Bondarciuc not hit the post 10 minutes from time.

Coach Mark Miller said it was a game of two halves.

"It took us a while to get used to the conditions," he said. "We never played indoors before. The team was shaky at the start but after falling behind 2-0 we settled down and finished the game strongly.

"The second half was better for us. The boys worked out a couple of excellent moves and had chances to score. However, we failed to pull a goal back."

Moldova: I. Cebanu, I. Armas, V. Bolohan ('72 I. Erhan), I. Andronic, D. Berbinischi, M. Frantuz ('46 I. Bondarciuc), A. Pascenco, I. Costrov ('83 P. Stinga), A. Cojuhari, A. Patras ('77 A. Tontici), M. Turcan ('69 A. Zislis).

Malta: M. Montfort, E. Agius ('46 E. Herrera), S. Bezzina, A. Agius ('59 R. Camilleri), T. Farrugia, J. Caruana, M. Bartolo ('84 J, Grioli), P. Fenech, I. Zammit ('87 A. Scerri), R. Fenech ('46 S. Meilak), D. Falzon

Referee: Vladislav Ivancenko. SCORERS: Costrov 9; Turcan 28.