Mifsud central to Malta win

Malta 2
Mifsud 2 pen., 43;
Central African Rep. 1
Momi 26;

For Malta, this friendly against relative unknowns Central African Republic was intended to aid preparations for the daunting Euro 2012 home qualifier against Croatia on September 2.

Ranked 89th by FIFA, Central African Republic are a weaker side compared with Croatia but Les Fauves (The Wild Beasts) were still expected to offer a decent challenge to our team.

Two goals from Michael Mifsud helped Malta to overcome their willing and hard-working opponents who, despite falling behind inside the opening two minutes, tried hard to score a second-half equaliser but the home team maintained composure to preserve their slim lead.

Malta delivered a positive performance despite being short of optimal match fitness.

John Buttigieg ought to have been pleased with his side’s showing, especially in defence where Jonathan Caruana and Andrei Agius were very solid.

Gareth Sciberras was relentless in midfield while Ryan Fenech acquitted himself well both in a central position as well as wide on the left where he played in the second half.

Andrew Cohen was one of Malta’s best performers with his clever probing while Mifsud underlined his scoring prowess with two goals.

It was Malta’s second positive result in a friendly match this year following the 0-0 draw against Switzerland in February.

The Malta FA must have been relieved to learn that the Central African Republic squad had overcome all obstacles that threatened their involvement in this friendly. French coach Jules Accorsi had 16 players at his disposal.

Buttigieg awarded a vote of confidence to goalkeeper Andrew Hogg while Clayton Failla was handed a rare start at left-back.

Roderick Briffa, Agius and Caruana filled the other defensive positions with Sciberras and Fenech operating in front of a four-strong rearguard.

The two wide midfield roles went to Daniel Bogdanovic and Andrew Cohen with Mifsud and André Schembri leading the attack.

Malta couldn’t have aspired for a better start.

The new electronic scoreboard only showed 40 seconds on the clock when Cohen picked out Mifsud. He tried to take the ball past the on-rushing Emmanuel Yezzoat who floored the Malta captain. Turkish referee Tolga Ozkalfa instantly pointed to the spot and Mifsud drilled his shot into the net.

Encouraged by their bright start, Malta shaded the early exchanges.

Bogdanovic and Fenech were wide with shots from outside the area and Failla’s inviting ball sparked a mix-up before Manasse Enza-Yamissi cleared for a corner.

The Central African Republic improved as the first half wore on but they hardly troubled the Maltese defence. Yet, it became abundantly clear that Malta still had a fight on their hands to cope with the physical prowess and speed of their opponents.

On 21 minutes, Malta mustered another good move as Mifsud flicked the ball to Bogdanovic who ran into the box but his return pass was blocked.

Moments later, Caruana embarked on a strong run out of defence before hitting an excellent pass to release Bogdanovic. The Sheffield United forward sprinted past his marker but slightly overhit his pass to Mifsud who, shortly afterwards, fired high from the distance.

Just when it looked as though Malta would double their lead, the African team equalised.

David Manga, who plays for FK Partizan, made a jinking run inside the box to unsettle the Malta defenders who could only deflect the ball into the path of Hilaire Momi who drove past Hogg.

A minute past the half-hour, Schembri headed wide from Briffa’s cross after the latter had been set up by the lively Bogdanovic.

Central African Republic saw more of the ball in the latter stages of the first half but it was Malta who managed to regain the lead three minutes from half-time.

Fenech was the catalyst as his inch-perfect throughball from midfield freed Mifsud who evaded the offside trap and lifted the ball past Yezzoat.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber and Jamie Pace came on for Hogg and Bogdanovic at the start of the second period and on 54 minutes Christian Caruana made his bow for Malta as a replacement for Schembri.

The game offered very little in way of goalmouth action in the second half as both sides struggled to create chances.

Central African Republic tried to pile the pressure on Malta but Buttigieg’s men stood their ground despite their evident difficulties to push forward.

Malta came close to a third goal late on when Caruana’s cross towards Mifsud was cut out by Yezzoat, the loose ball rolled towards Cohen whose goalbound effort was repelled by Serge Kogui-Souchan.

Malta
Hogg (46 J. Haber), J. Caruana, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, R. Fenech, D. Bogdanovic (46 J. Pace), R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (90 T. Cilia), C. Failla (73 C. Mamo), A. Schembri (55 C. Caruana).

Central African Republic
E. Yezzoat, F. Kethevoama, F. Anzite, M. Enza-Yamissi, R. Lignanzi, F. Onassis Kemo (68 M. Gbarsin), D. Manga, O. Bolitoli (78 F. Kassai), S. Kogui-Souchan, A. Kazamgba (55 N. Nze), H. Momi.

Referee: Tolga Ozkalfa (Turkey FA).

Yellow cards: Yezzoat; Bolitoli; Cohen; Caruana; Sciberras; Mamo; Lignanzi.

Malta players’ ratings
Hogg-6, Caruana-7, Sciberras-6.5, Agius-7, Fenech-6.5, Bogdanovic-6, Briffa-6, Mifsud-7, Cohen-7, Failla-6, Schembri-6.

Substitutes used: Haber-6, Pace-6, Caruana-6.