Estonia fight back to win 2-1

Malta were left to rue a missed penalty yesterday after going down 2-1 to Estonia in their final warm-up before the start of their 2010 World Cup qualifiers next month.

Michael Mifsud had the chance to salvage a draw but his penalty came off the woodwork with 15 minutes of the game left.

The Coventry City striker, who scored Malta's only goal in a 5-1 defeat to Austria in a pre-Euro 2008 friendly and hit five in the record 7-1 win over Liechtenstein in March, had earned the penalty himself after a darting run that forced an opponent to foul him inside the box.

The friendly had started on an excellent note for Dusan Fitzel's team after left-back Ian Azzopardi gave the team a ninth minute lead with a rasping drive from a free-kick - his first international goal.

Estonia, however, fought back to overturn the deficit.

Ats Purje grabbed a 21st minute equaliser and the hosts scored the winner six minutes into the second half through Andres Oper.

The friendly brought the curtains down on a week-long training camp Malta had in Estonia ahead of their opening World Cup Group One qualifiers, at home to Portugal on September 6 and away to Albania four days later.

Fitzel told The Times that his team had struggled to get to grips with the tactical variations he introduced during the friendly.

"I tried a couple of new tactical systems but the team had problems adapting," Fitzel said.

"The transition from defence to attack was not so good and it's clear that we need to improve. Estonia were fitter, faster and stronger but this is understandable as the league there began some weeks ago.

"It's always disappointing to lose, especially after missing a late penalty and a couple of other scoring chances but, in fairness, Estonia deserved to win."

With Andrè Schembri ruled out of the Portugal qualifier due to suspension, Fitzel left the Carl Zeiss Jena striker out of his starting line-up yesterday in favour of Etienne Barbara. The SC Verle forward partnered Mifsud in attack but Schembri was one of six second-half substitutes.

Captain Gilbert Agius made his 109th appearance for Malta yesterday.

Malta: J. Haber, K. Scicluna ('46 A. Schembri), I. Azzopardi ('78 S. Wellman), L. Dimech, J. Mifsud ('46 B. Said), K. Sammut ('80 R. Bajada), G. Agius ('78 C. Frendo), J. Pace, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, E. Barbara ('70 I. Woods).