Malta denied by last-gasp goal
France top team in Group 4
A goal scored one minute from time by Lucas Eberle denied Malta victory over Liechtenstein and the platonic satisfaction of avoiding bottom place in Group 4, a position they now have to share with their opponents in the final standings of the U-19 UEFA Championship.
Malta lost their first match 2-0 on Friday against Ireland and 3-0 against France on Sunday.
At the Centenary Stadium yesterday, Malta went ahead just after the hour through Terence Vella. He latched on to a superb service from Miguel Ciantar before lobbing cutely past Liechtenstein keeper Mario Tichy.
Tichy had earlier foiled Ciantar when turning the midfielder's grounder away for a corner.
Silvio Vella's side shaded the opening period but they failed to turn their territorial supremacy into tangible results.
In the second half, Liechtenstein grew in confidence but only once did they seriously threaten Daniel Balzan. That was when Malta's goalkeeper flung to his right to turn a low Simon Pirker shot to corner.
Thereafter, Malta regained some of their early composure, only for their good work to be undone by that last-gasp goal.
Malta: D. Balzan, T. Fleri Soler, O. Bugeja, J. Xerri, K. Farrugia, T. Caruana (J.P. Farrugia), R. Muscat, D. Grima, T. Vella, M. Ciantar (D.R. Zammit), E. Cauchi.
In the other group match played yesterday at the Hibs Ground, France beat Ireland 2-0 to top the table and proceed with their Irish opponents to the next stage of the competition to be played in April/May 2009.
Final standings: France 9; Ireland 6; Liechtenstein, Malta 1.