Sammut's wonder goal downs Czechs

Turning back the pages of the history of Maltese football, my attention was drawn to the occasion when Meteor Praha visited Malta in January 1932.

Prague outfit Meteors were not a great team. At least, they were not of the same standard as the famous Hajduk or FC Wien, of Austria. The Maltese were charmed by the style of the Yugoslav and Austrian artists but, being used to the British style of football, were dissatisfied by the lack of bite in the visitors' play.

The Czechs, however, were a good team and played intelligent and organised football.

The promoter of the tour was Carmelo Scicluna, the proprietor of the Empire Sports Ground.

Meteors were not well known in Malta but there is no doubt that they were a very valid team. Composed practically of international players, the team toured Austria, France and Spain before coming to Malta.

Their best results were: vs Nimes (France) 3-1; vs AS Monaco (France) 2-1; vs Viktoria Setubal (Portugal) 3-2; vs FA Oporto (Portugal) 4-1; vs Barcelona (Spain) 3-2; vs FC Santander (Spain) 7-1; vs Valencia (Spain) 4-1; vs Real Madrid (Spain) 2-2; vs Vasas (Hungary) 3-0; vs WAC (Austria) 2-0; vs Rapid (Austria) 7-2.

This impressive record shows the might of the Czechs and puts the eventual results obtained by the Maltese against the Meteors in a better light.

It is probable that Meteors did not have their best XI in Malta. Yet, they offered a brand of football typical of other continental teams of that era.

They played the short-passing game modelled on the Scottish pattern, so dear to the central European countries. They did not win many matches here but were surely a match for our best teams.

In fact, in their first game in Malta, they beat Valletta 5-1 but a few days later they lost to the MFA XI 3-1.

Playing against the Navy in torrential rain, they were literally swamped in the mud of the stadium.

Those days, the Navy had noted Charlton Athletic inside-forward Don Welsh in their ranks. He spent the early years of his career in Malta before moving to Torquay and Charlton. In 1938, he earned the first of three caps for England against Germany. Welsh later played for the national team against Switzerland and Romania, scoring once against the latter in 1939.

The next Saturday saw a great comeback on the part of Meteors who were unlucky to go down by the odd goal in three against Cassar Cup holders, the Worcestershire Regiment.

The Meteors' inconsistent form confounded the critics who turned their eyes on the visitors' final match against Sliema Wanderers as a final test between the pride of Malta and the foreign challengers.

From the kick-off, the Wanderers attacked the Czech fort and it was not long before Carmelo Cauchi, accepting a perfect pass from Sammut, ran through the defence and beat Chaloupecki all ends up with a left-footer.

Meteors settled down and began to weave interesting passing patterns but they had to wait until the final minutes of the first half to draw level, Chlopec beating Joe Nicholl with a long, swerving shot.

After half-time, the Czechs made a couple of changes which surprised the spectators who were not used to seeing substitutions. They kept up the pressure and Kral scored with a neat header from a Rozvod corner.

Sliema's hopes dwindled and a Czech victory seemed imminent.

But, on 68 minutes, Cauchi and Sammut challenged Chaloupecki for the ball. The keeper dropped it and the mercurial 'Brownie' Sammut was on hand to smack it in.

Hardly had the shouts of 'goal' died down when Sliema went ahead.

Cauchi burst through and sent a through pass to Joseph Sammut. Chaloupecki, thinking that the pass was too long, stayed in goal. Burianek thought the same.

In fact, everyone at the stadium thought so, except 'Brownie' who, flinging himself along the ground as in a sliding tackle, reached the ball before it crossed the line and smashed it in from an acute angle.

It was a superb goal fit to win any match.