Malta 2
Mifsud 55, 64;
Liechtenstein 1
Buchel 47;
Strange as it may sound, the occasion must have felt like a second coming and a swansong for Robert Gatt. For the second time in his coaching career, he took charge of the national team on an interim basis for yesterday’s friendly against Liechtenstein.
It is a measure of Gatt’s love for football that he accepted to lead the team as caretaker coach but his dedication didn’t go unrewarded as Malta came from behind to beat Liechtenstein 2-1 in this clash of the European minnows.
Malta richly deserved their win as they were the brighter side for long spells, showing resilience to hit back after Liechtenstein had grabbed a surprise lead early in the second half.
On a night when three players made their bow, centre-stage was taken by an illustrated member of the old guard as captain Michael Mifsud scored a brace to further cement his position as Malta’s all-time top marksman, taking his tally to 32 goals.
Mifsud’s goals – a long-range thunderbolt and an opportunistic finish – made it a happy night for the side and Gatt who clenched his fists in celebration at the final whistle.
While Mifsud deservedly captured the attention, confirmation of his scoring nous was not the only positive to emerge from this encounter as Bjorn Kristensen impressed during his 45-minute debut appearance while his team-mates showed composure, discipline and attacking fluency, especially in the second half.
The win also marked a positive start ahead of the upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
It should also offer further encouragement to Italian Pietro Ghedin who is widely expected to return to the helm of Malta in the coming months.
Maintaining the status quo was clearly not an option for Gatt who made some significant changes, both in terms of personnel as well as tactics.
Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper Henry Bonello and Kristensen, the Hibs midfielder, made their debut while defender Steve Borg earned a rare start alongside Valletta team-mate Jonathan Caruana.
Somewhat surprisingly, goalkeeper Justin Haber and Luke Dimech, back in the national team’s fold after a long absence, had to make do with a place on the bench.
Andrei Agius has spent most of his international career in central defence but the Latina player moved into midfield yesterday where he flanked Kristensten.
Gatt plumped for experience in the wide defensive positions as Roderick Briffa and Clayton Failla were charged with patrolling the flanks behind Daniel Bogdanovic and Andrew Cohen.
Perhaps, the only department that had a familiar look about it was attack as André Schembri played off Mifsud in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Liechtenstein, drawn in World Cup qualifying Group H along with Bosnia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, came into this game determined to make amends for their humiliating 7-1 defeat to Malta in another friendly four years ago.
Swiss coach Hans-Peter Zaug only had 16 players at his disposal as injury robbed him of Philipp Erne, Marco Ritzberger, Thomas Beck and David Hasler.
Experienced captain Mario Frick, now playing for part-timers FC Balzers, was Liechtenstein’s attacking spearhead with Michele Polverino roaming behind him.
Agius was the first player to go into Welsh referee Mark Whitby’s book after a mistimed challenge on Martin Buchel on eight minutes.
Three minutes later, Malta came close to taking the lead when Kristensen intercepted a pass in Liechtenstein’s half and directed a through-ball to Mifsud.
Mifsud looked to have pulled his marker but Whitby allowed play to continue as he raced into the box and cut inside Michael Stocklasa but his final effort was pushed out by Peter Jehle.
On another occasion, Cohen rifled a powerful drive over the bar after being teed up by Bogdanovic.
The home side just shaded the early exchanges as Liechtenstein hardly got a glimpse of Malta’s goal in the opening 20 minutes.
Yet, in their first noteworthy attack, the visitors almost surged ahead as Polverino’s dipping cross from the left was deflected into the path of the overlapping Nicolas Hasler who hit wide from an inviting position.
A Malta breakaway ended with Cohen swinging over a cross from the right but Schembri’s header lacked the power to trouble Jehle.
It was all too predictable though as Malta toiled to make headway in attack as Liechtenstein cut the supply to Mifsud and Schembri.
Cheered on by the band-playing members of the South End core, the home side forced a corner towards the end of the first half.
But, nothing came off that set-piece.
Gatt made three substitutions at the start of the second half. Edmond Agius replaced fellow debutant Kristensen while Haber and Dimech came on for Bonello and Borg respectively.
Haber’s first intervention was to pick the ball from the net as Liechtenstein stunned Malta inside the opening two minutes.
Franz Burgmeier was allowed time and space to advance before cutting the ball back for Buchel who drilled his shot past Haber.
Liechtenstein’s lead didn’t last long though as Mifsud brought Malta level with a superb goal 10 minutes into the second half.
Receiving the ball deep into Liechtenstein’s half, Mifsud strode forward before unleashing a perfectly-flighted shot that ripped past the hapless Jehle.
Mifsud’s excellent strike was reminiscent of his equally emphatic finish in the 1-1 home draw with Georgia only that this time the distance from goal was longer.
The goal raised the spirits of the players as well as the supporters.
Just past the hour, Malta nearly went ahead but Clayton Failla’s free-kick came off the base of the far post. From the rebound, Mifsud buried the ball home but he was in an offside position.
Things got better for Malta on 64 minutes. Schembri’s progression tormented the Liechtenstein defenders who looked well-placed to avert danger but their hesitancy was punished by Mifsud who pounced on the loose ball and slotted home from close in.
Malta were now going forward with purpose as the likes of Bogdanovic and Schembri became more involved in the link-up play.
With 19 minutes remaining, Mifsud missed a great chance to complete his hat-trick.
Pouncing on a miscued pass from Yves Dehri, he dashed unimpeded into the box but his grounder was fractionally wide.
Another Failla free-kick was blocked by Jehle as Malta remained on top.
There was some drama late on as goalkeeper Jehle went up for a corner, leaving his goal unattended. Haber fisted away the ensuing cross and Shaun Bajada belted the ball forward as Mifsud set off on a run.
Jehle did his best to chase back but Mifsud managed a shot that looked destined to roll into the net only to drift inches wide of the far post.
Malta
H. Bonello (46 J. Haber), J. Caruana, S. Borg (46 L. Dimech), A. Agius (84 G. Sciberras), D. Bogdanovic, R. Briffa (72 A. Muscat), M. Mifsud, A. Cohen, C. Failla, A. Schembri (76 S. Bajada), B. Kristensen (46 E. Agius).
Liechtenstein
P. Jehle, Y. Dehri (88 F. Eberle), Michael Stocklasa (22 D. Kartmann), Martin Stocklasa, M. Rechsteiner (84 I. Quintans), M. Buchel (73 M. Christen) M. Frick, F. Burgmeier, N. Hasler, S. Wieser, M. Polverino.
Referee: Mark Whitby (Wales).
Yellow cards: A. Agius; Jehle; Bogda-novic; Wieser.
Attendance: 2,300.
Malta players’ ratings
Bonello-6, Caruana-6, Borg-6, Agius-6, Bogdanovic-6.5, Briffa-6, Mifsud-8, Cohen-6, Failla-6, Schembri-6.5, Kristensen-7.5.
Subs: Haber-6, E. Agius-6, Dimech-6.