Malta U-21 pay for first half lapse

Malta 0
Belgium 1
Kitoko 33

Malta U-21 paid the price of starting the game slowly as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Belgium in a UEFA Championship qualifier at the National Stadium yesterday.

The hosts improved as the game progressed but were frustrated by their poor finishing in front of goal. Still, Malta coach Edwin Camilleri must have been pleased with his team's improved second-half performance albeit it was not enough to prevent a 1-0 loss.

Despite territorial supremacy, Belgium did not carve many openings in the Maltese defence but their efficiency in front of goal enabled them to cruise to victory in a low-key match.

Malta did not defend en masse and tried hard to keep possession, at times managing to come out of the area confidently with the ball even though their final pass towards the strikers left much to be desired.

Edwin Camilleri deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation with Sliema midfielder Mark Scerri detailed to provide extra cover for the defence as he pushed up on Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and George Gribbon played in a more advanced central midfield role, tracked by Radja Nainggolan and Sven Kums.

Terence Vella and John Mintoff did their best to keep the Belgium full-backs occupied and at the same time support Warren Chircop.

Malta started nervously and were second best throughout a cagey opening period.

Belgium, in stark contrast, were well organised and physically imposing. They refused to let the Maltese youngsters settle and regularly created problems to the hosts' back line. Even more worryingly, a series of set-pieces taken, by Mehdi Carcela Gonzalez, gave the defence all sorts of problems. On the half hour mark, Carcela Gonzalez tried his luck with a free-kick from a long distance but his shot finished straight into the hands of Henry Bonello.

But there was no escape for Malta three minutes later. Carcela Gonzalez made a smart move into the box but saw his shot blocked by Bonello, Kitoko followed up on the rebound to tap home.

Kitoko was a constant thorn in Malta's side. Just before the break, he ran down the right flank, leaving several defenders in his wake before flighting in a cross into the path of Jelle Vossen. His delivery was met by an acrobatic overhead kick by the Belgian striker which flew over the bar.

Malta improved after the interval, particularly when Ben Camilleri came on for Chircop on the hour.

After 75 minutes, the midfielder's attempt to lift the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Simon Mignolet went narrowly wide, just minutes after Mark Scerri saw a drilled shot just off the target.

Edwin Camilleri was heartened by his team's reaction and threw caution to the wind by introducing Miguel Ciantar to play alongside Camilleri and Vella.

Malta's task was made a little bit harder with the sending off of Gatt Baldacchino, who was given his marching orders for two bookable offences as the Belgian side hung their narrow lead.

Malta
H. Bonello, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, T. Farrugia (C), C. Gatt Baldacchino, G. Gribbon, J. Mintoff ('88 M. Ciantar), M. Scerri, J. Zerafa, W. Chircop ('59 B. Camilleri), T. Vella ('90 K. Pulo).

Belgium
S. Mignolet, R. Kitoko, N. Aarab, D. Van Gijseghem, J. Huyghebaert, R. Nainggolan, J.Mununga ('86 S. Wuytens), V. Odjidja-Ofoe, J. Vossen ('65 R. Luraro Boningoli), S. Kums ('46 B. Mujangi), M. Carcela Gonzalez.

Referee: I. Satchi (Moldova).

Yellow Cards: Zerafa, Scerri, Farrugia, Camileri, Odjidja-Ofoe, Gatt Baldacchino, Wuytens.

Red Card C. Gatt Baldacchino.