Malta make their point

Malta 0
Albania 0

A windswept National Stadium was the setting of Malta's first competitive outing in 2009 yesterday.

Albania were to provide opposition amidst high expectations from the home fans of a first positive result after four straight defeats in this qualifying campaign.

A subdued performance in a generally dull first half did little to fuel the optimism of the home fans as Dusan Fitzel's men appeared to have left their confidence in cold storage. But, having kept Albania at bay, Malta were a transformed side in the second 45 minutes, tearing into their fading opponents but failing to translate their superior possession into goals.

Justin Haber had been Malta's top performer in the first half as he made a couple of decisive saves to thwart Albania but the 27-year-old had little to do after the change of ends as Andrew Cohen and Andre Schembri led the home team's charge up front.

Considering that Malta had failed to gain a point in four matches, this draw has to be viewed as satisfactory but the team should have gained the three points and scored their first goal had Terrence Scerri not spurned a glaring opportunity soon after the restart.

The wintry conditions meant that the bulk of seats at the stadium remained empty. To their credit, the South End Core lured a few hundred vociferous fans who really did their best to cheer the team on.

Within minutes of the initial whistle, police officers, headed by Assistant Commissioner Josie Brincat, were seen escorting a small group of Albanian fans from the Millennium Stand to the enclosure to ensure that the two sets of supporters were separated.

Haber's experience at international level is likely to have swayed Fitzel to give him the no.1 jersey ahead of Andrew Hogg. In central defence, the coach opted for veteran Luke Dimech and the up-and-coming Andrei Agius. Alex Muscat was deployed on the right and Shaun Bajada was preferred to Ian Azzopardi on the left of our four-strong defence.

Skipper Gilbert Agius started his 114th match for Malta in the holding midfield position as Fitzel favoured a 4-1-4-1 approach.

Schembri and Kevin Sammut had initial instructions to probe for openings on the flanks with Cohen and Michael Mifsud taking up the central roles in midfield. Terrence Scerri was the lone striker.

Ervin Bulku tested waters with a diagonal effort but Haber made a routine save. The goalkeeper was then obliged to parry a downward header from Debatic Curri.

At the other end, Cohen's jinking run took him into Albania's box where he squared to Scerri but the latter's attempt was deflected away for a corner.

Albania's tactical configuration was a flexible 4-3-3 with the towering Erjon Bogdani deployed as a target man. Arie Haan's men played the better football in the initial stages but their attacking threat was snuffed out by the Maltese.

However, a minute past the hour, the home defence was found wanting when Lika Gilman's cross was flicked on by Klodian Duro towards Bogdani who was left in complete isolation at the far post. The Chievo striker looked certain to score but Haber stood his ground to parry his attempt, much to the relief of his team-mates.

With Malta lacking any spark, Albania maintained their pressure. Danger loomed when Bogdani laid the ball off to Gilman on the left but the latter's cross found no takers.

Just before half-time, Duro's corner caused anxiety in the Maltese defence before Scerri cleared. Seconds later, Malta won their first corner following a rare attacking foray by Mifsud, but Cohen's delivery failed to trouble Isli Hidi.

The second half was barely two minutes when the wily Cohen procurred an opening for Mifsud whose grounder from a wide position drifted wide of the far post. This scoring opportunity raised hopes of a better showing by the red-shirted men in the second period.

A whiff of anticipation coursed through the home fans when, with 12 minutes gone, Schembri's clever pass unlocked the Albanian defence as Scerri powered clear but the latter skied his shot over the bar with only Hidi to beat.

Mifsud set off on a run after winning possession but out came Hidi to belt the ball clear.

Home spirits were clearly lifted by the bright start to the second half.

Brisk movement by the home players was at the heart of this sudden improvement as the likes of Schembri and Mifsud were strutting into dangerous positions and offering better support for Scerri.

Bajada's free-kick, given for a foul on Agius, took a deflection but Hidi saved. Malta's supremacy was such now that Albania didn't have a sniff at goal for most of the opening 25 minutes.

With 20 minutes left, Fitzel hauled off Scerri in favour of Roderick Briffa. This substitution necessitated a positional switch as Schembri was detailed to assume Scerri's position.

Malta retained the initiative, Briffa having a shot blocked after receiving from Cohen and Schembri hitting wide after a good run.

Chants of 'Viva Malta' now echoed around the stadium.

Eight minutes from time, Dimech rescued Malta when sliding in to dispossess Skela. Clayton Failla delivered a cross into the box but Mifsud's scrambled shot was blocked.

The force was clearly with the hosts as Schembri, excellent in the second half, charged clear on the left before pulling the ball back for Mifsud. The Barnsley forward unleashed a powerful shot but Hidi parried away his attempt.

In the dying moments, Hidi had to sprint off his line to hook the ball away before Schembri could inflict further harm.

Haber also did well to stop Skela's shot on the stroke of time as Malta held out for a deserved point.

Malta
J. Haber, A. Muscat ('82 C. Failla), A. Agius, L. Dimech, G. Agius ('87 R. Fenech), M. Mifsud, K. Sammut, A. Cohen, A. Schembri, T. Scerri ('70 R. Briffa), S. Bajada.

Albania
I. Hidi, A. Dallku, E. Beqiri, D. Curri, A. Agolli ('46 K. Vangjeli, '80 A. Lila), E. Vrapi, E. Bulku, G. Lika, E. Skela, K. Duro, E. Bogdani ('76 B. Berisha).

Referee: A. Deaconu (Romania).

Yellow cards: Agolli; Vrapi; Lila.

Malta players' ratings:
Haber-7, Muscat-6, A. Agius-6.5, Dimech-6.5, G. Agius-6, Mifsud-6, Sammut-6, Cohen-7.5, Schembri-7, Scerri-5.5, Bajada-6.

Subs: Briffa-6, Failla, Fenech.

Comments...

Dusan Fitzel (Malta coach)

"I thought this game was more about tactics, particularly in the first half. It took our team some time to get used to the new tactical shape as Albania became more effective when they started to turn the ball around in midfield.

"But, in the second half we improved significantly and I'm particularly happy that we did so well and not concede a goal.

"We had a few good chances as well and I think we should have scored one goal but, all in all, it was an equal game."

Arie Haan (Albania coach)

"This game gave us the possibility to go top of the group so there was a lot at stake for us here. We took some time to settle down but the team improved in the first half.

"However, everything went wrong for us after the interval.

"There was a lot of erratic passing on our side and we conceded a lot of space, inviting the Maltese to attack us.

"The 0-0 draw was a logical result in the end."