Malta-Wales friendly – a low-key affair

Matches between Maltese and British teams always create great enthusiasm among local football fans.

Malta has played against all four home countries at different levels. Usually, these games generate a lot of interest but the friendly between Malta and Wales at the National Stadium on June 3, 1998, failed to live up to expectations, possibly because it was only a friendly game or, perhaps, because it was played so late in the season.

Playing without a number of established players, Malta’s team had a new look about it which, unfortunately, did little to improve the players’ confidence.

Daniel Theuma, Massimo Grima and Pierre Aquilina, who made their international debut in this match, didn’t have a bad game but it is always tough for a new player to adapt immediately to the standards of international football.

Wales, then managed by Bobby Gould, also fielded an experi-mental side, making use of 17-year-old Ryan Green, of Wolves, who thus became the youngest ever player to wear the famous dragon shirt of Wales.

Football old-timers remem-bered Gould as the roboust centre-forward who led the Arsenal forward line way back in 1969 when the Gunners toured the islands.

Malta started well and in the first half hour created two clear-cut chances.

The best came from a Joe Brincat drive which rattled the crossbar. Wales, however, went ahead in the 25th minute when Craig Bellamy ran through to a perfect pass from John Hartson and beat Malta goalkeeper Mario Muscat at the far post.

Malta never recovered from this setback and before half-time, Wales twice came close to increasing their lead.

At the start of the second period, Malta tried to get back into the game but that only lasted up to the stroke of the hour when Wales put the issue beyond doubt with a goal from Hartson.

Ten minutes later, Haworth was brought down in the penalty area and Sheffield Wednesday’s Mark Pembridge scored with a powerful shot. This goal brought to an end a rather miserable afternoon for the national team.