Spirited showing not enough as Malta go down to Latvia

Malta 0

Latvia 2
Gorkss 43; Verpakovskis 85

Stirred by the support rolling down from the South Stand, Malta produced a lively performance in yesterday’s home Euro 2012 qualifier but their bold effort was undone by two goals late in each half.

Coming through a tetchy start, the Maltese players raised their game but hopes of breaking their duck in Group F receded when Latvia capitalised on their height advantage by taking the lead with a Kaspars Gorkss’s header on 43 minutes.

The home team tore out of the blocks in the second half but their tendency to pump long balls towards lone striker Michael Mifsud played into the hands of the Latvians whose prudent approach paid off when Maris Verpakovskis finished off a counter-attack with a ferocious drive.

Although Malta’s display represented a marked improvement on the Israel game, especially on the flanks where the team defended much better and also in the attacking phase, John Buttigieg’s men looked short on spark in the centre of midfield while the team’s creative elements, the likes of Shaun Bajada, Roderick Briffa and Andrew Cohen, only flickered sporadically.

Daniel Bogdanovic’s introduction after the break added impetus to Malta’s forward momentum and the Sheffield United forward was left to rue his ill-luck when his exquisite back-heel came off the post.

The old saying ‘luck favours the brave’ didn’t hold true here as for the umpteenth time Malta had nothing to show for their efforts at the end.

With away qualifiers against Georgia and Croatia coming up, Malta’s chances of opening their account before the end of the year now look remote.

The MFA’s commendable initiative to allow free entry to the South Stand drew hundreds of flag-waving fans to the stadium. Some members of the South End Core tried to give the occasion an extra flavour as they turned up dressed as knights.

A host of former Malta stalwarts, the likes of Joe Camilleri, Ernest Barry and Stefan Sultana, were also present after accepting the invitation of the MFA and Melita to take part in a pre-match TV programme.

It was also positive to see Dr Joe Mifsud, the former Malta FA president, taking his seat in the VIP zone just before kick-off.

The boisterous cheers that greeted the rousing rendition of the national anthem by popular singer Chiara were in the sharp contrast with the quietness that enveloped the stadium as a minute’s silence in memory of George Abela, the father of President George Abela, was impeccably observed.

Malta’s initial XI featured two changes from the Israel defeat as Buttigieg awarded starting berths to Manny Muscat and Cohen at the expense of Edward Herrera and Bogdanovic respectively.

Buttigieg’s tactical strategy was unchanged though with Mifsud positioned at the tip of a 4-4-1-1 formation. Cohen was the adjunct striker with wide midfielders Roderick Briffa and Shaun Bajada given clear instructions to supplement Malta’s attacking moves by cutting in from the wings.

Carlo Mamo made a vital sliding intervention to nudge the ball away for a corner before Artjoms Rudnevs could connect with Juris Laizans’s pass after nine minutes.

Latvia were the brisker side with Laizans supplying the flair to drive the team forward. On 13 minutes, his free-kick came off the bar.

Home optimism rose when Muscat, chasing on to an excellent Jonathan Caruana ball, delivered a cross inside the box. Latvia’s clearance fell to Jamie Pace but the Valletta midfielder’s miscued his volley.

Moments later, Malta threatened to break the stalemate as Cohen directed a through-ball to Mifsud. The delivery caught the Latvian defence by surprise as Mifsud darted into the box but his shot was too central to trouble keeper Andris Vanins.

After a tentative start, Malta began to see more of the ball with Buttigieg’s men showing better tactical organisation than they did in the 1-3 reverse to Israel.

Mifsud’s non-stop running kept the Latvia defenders on their toes.

Nine minutes from half-time, Gareth Sciberras gifted Latvia an opening as his rushed backpass was intercepted by Maris Verpakovskis.

He surged forward and tried to release Rudnevs but Sciberras atoned for his mistake by getting his body in the way of the Latvia striker.

Just when it looked as though the opening period was going to end goalless, Latvia struck.

They made their superior height count as Gorkss outjumped Pace to head Aleksandars Cauna’s free-kick past Hogg.

Two minutes into the second half, Malta should have equalised.

Muscat, an enterprising figure on the right flank, charged into the box to receive Sciberras’s pass but his inswinger drifted wide.

Buttigieg effected his first substitution 13 minutes into the second half, bringing on Bogdanovic for Muscat. He proceeded to take an advanced position on the right midfield as Briffa dropped to right-back.

Goalmouth action was at a premium now with Latvia seemingly content to sit back and operate with counter-attacks.

With 21 minutes left, Malta were unlucky not to make it one-all.

Pouncing on Latvia’s partial clearance, Cohen weaved his way into the penalty area and dragged his pass into the six-yard box. Bogdanovic turned adroitly to hit an audacious back-heel that stunned the Latvia goalkeeper but much to Malta’s frustration, the ball hit the foot of the far post.

The red-shirted players continued to pour forward with renewed vigour, Bajada bringing a fine save from Vanins with a diagonal shot.

Malta’s increasing momentum prompted Buttigieg to make a double change, Clayton Failla and Ryan Fenech coming on for Sciberras and Mamo respectively. Driven on by a desire to make his mark on the game, Bogdanovic fashioned an angled drive that flashed just wide.

Hopes of a draw for Malta all but ebbed away when Latvia doubled their lead five minutes from time. Verpakovskis nutmegged Agius and raced into the box before ramming past Hogg.

Mifsud came close to pulling one back but sent his volley over the bar with only Vanins to beat.

Comments

John Buttigieg: “I’m very disappointed in light of the bold effort put in by the players in this game. They played their hearts out but we’ve lost again. Our performance in the first half was up-and-down but we improved a lot in the second and also created a number of scoring chances.

“Their second goal with a few minutes left made it very difficult for us to come back.”

Aleksandars Starkovs: “This was an important win for us, one that puts our qualifying campaign back on track after the defeat to Croatia.

“Malta are hard to beat at home and I’m glad that we have managed to get a result here.

“Kaspars Gorkss is our captain and he showed how important he is to the team by scoring the first goal.”

Malta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, C. Mamo (‘77 R. Fenech), G. Sciberras (‘77 C. Failla), A. Agius, S. Bajada, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen, M. Muscat (‘58 D. Bogdanovic), J. Pace.

Latvia
A. Vanins, O. Klava, K. Gorkss, M. Rafalskis (‘82 V. Astafjevs), J. Laizans, D. Ivanovs, P. Mihadjuks, A. Cauna, M. Verpakovskis (‘90 A. Pereplotkins), A. Rubins, A. Rudnevs (‘70 G. Karlsons).

Referee: Tony Asumaa (Finland).

Yellow cards: Klava; Agius; Mifsud; Rafalskis; Bogdanovic.

Attendance: 6,255.

Malta Players’ Ratings
Hogg-6, Caruana-6, Mamo-5.5, G. Sciberras-5, Agius-6, Bajada-6, Briffa-6, Mifsud-6.5, Cohen-6, Muscat-6.5, Pace-5.5. Substitute: Bogdanovic-7.