Battling Malta fall to last-minute goal in Georgia

GEORGIA 1, MALTA 0

With the score still goalless as the game moved into stoppage time, Malta had good reasons to be optimistic about their prospects of gaining their first point in Euro 2012 qualifying Group F but Georgia put a dagger into Maltese hearts with a last-gasp goal.

Backed by a vocal crowd on another rainy night in Tbilisi, Georgia had dominated large swathes of possession but Malta held firm and only created some opportunities on the counter.

All the players had given everything to the cause but Georgia’s late pressure proved too much for Malta who left the stadium dejected after substitute David Siradze headed Georgia’s winner on the stroke of time.

Justin Haber, back in the squad after recovering from a hand injury, received coach John Buttigieg’s nod to guard Malta’s goal as Andrew Hogg, who had started the qualifying defeats against Israel and Latvia, had to make do with a place on the bench.

Midfielder Gareth Sciberras had been rated doubtful on the eve of the match after suffering a slight adductor injury but he was certified fit to start against Georgia.

Making a comeback for Malta this evening was André Schembri who started his first match for the national team in more than a year. The Ferencvaros forward was deployed behind Michael Mifsud, Malta’s lone striker.

Georgia did most of the running in the first half but the well-drilled Malta team defended well and also produced a couple of dangerous breakaways.

Eight minutes into the game Vladimer Dvalishvili sent in a left-wing cross into the box but his service found no takers.

After palming away Jano Ananidze’s cross from a corner, Haber distinguished himself when pawing away a fierce shot from Gogita Gogua.

Malta’s first chance came close to 20th minute mark, Jonathan Caruana heading Shaun Bajada’s corner over the bar.

From an almost identical move, Georgia threatened to forge ahead but Aleksandre Amisulashvili steered his header wide from a Gogua corner.

When Jamie Pace broke a Georgia attack in the centre of the pitch, Malta quicky broke on the counter. Pace passed to Bajada who served Schembri but the latter fluffed his shot.

Georgia lay into Malta after half-time with Gogua heading wide from Lasha Salukvdaze’s swirling cross.

Nine minutes into the second half, Malta won a free-kick close to the byline to the right of Georgia’s box. Cohen played a short pass to Carlo Mamo but his grounder was hooked away by Zurab Kizhanishvili.

Substitute Alexandrew Iashvili’s first-time drive from outside the defence failed to sail through the thicket of players in front of Haber’s goal.

Kaladze nearly put Georgia ahead when he jumped high to meet Ananidze’s cross but his header dropped wide of the near post.

Growing in confidence as the minutes ticked away, Malta won a couple of corners but they failed to trouble Georgia.

With 12 minutes remaining, Malta missed a great opportunity to move ahead.

Another fast counter-attack saw Bajada make good progress on the left before drifting infield and releasing Schembri who was clear. However, the latter’s shot was pushed away by Revishvili.

Reprieved, Georgia regained the initiative. Haber saved a Gogua screamer and Siradze hit wide from close range after a good move by Asatiani.

Georgia hit the winner in the dying moments when Kaladze’s excellent cross from the left sailed towards the centre of the box where Siradze leapt into the air to send a downward header past Haber.

Georgia

N. Revishvili, L. Salukvadze, M. Asatiani, K. Kaladze, A. Amisulashvili, Z. Khizanshvili, G. Gogua, J. Ananidze (73 M. Daushvili), G. Merebashvili (46 D. Siradze), L. Kobiashvili, V. Dvalishvili (46 A. Iashvili).

Malta

J. Haber, J. Caruana, C. Mamo, G. Sciberras (68 R. Fenech), A. Agius, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (90 M. Grima), S. Bajada, A. Schembri (79 P. Fenech), J. Pace.

Referee

Alan Black (Northern Ireland).