MALTA-3, FAROE ISLANDS-2
Three goals to the good by the end of the first half, Malta looked to be coasting to a comfortable win but Faroe Islands struck twice in the last 10 minutes to set up a tense finale.
Faroe Islands pushed forward in search of an equaliser in this clash of the European minnows but Malta held firm to gain a 3-2 win, their first over their Nordic opponents after three defeats in their previous three meetings.
Despite being pegged back by their opponents' second-half reaction, Malta deserved their win after a vibrant first-half that was capped by three fine goals, especially the first by Ryan Fenech who scored with a sweetly-struck drive from the distance.
Although there were no points at stake in this friendly, Malta scored some psychological 'points' after their two morale-draining defeats to the Czech Republic and Denmark in their final World Cup qualifiers last month.
Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, starting his first game for Malta since the 6-0 defeat to Bulgaria in March, saved a cross-shot from Rogvi Baldvinsson.The game was off to a quiet start.
Andrew Cohen fashioned Malta's first chance. The Hibs playmaker reclaimed possession just outside the penalty area but his low drive was too central to unsettle Faroe Islands' goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, who plays for Motherwell.
Malta broke the stalemate on 18 minutes. And what a goal it was as Ryan Fenech picked up possession deep in the opposing half and advanced before producing a thumping drive that soared into the top corner of the net.
Fenech turned provider two minutes later as his through-ball from midfield released Michael Mifsud, who was making his 102nd appearance for Malta.
Mifsud cut inside Erlin Jacobsen and drove a lot shot past Nielsen.Two goals down, the Faroese took a while to stage a reaction. They threatened to reduce the deficit but a dangerous first-time effort by Pall A. Klettskaro was pushed away by the alert Hogg after Faroe Islands had broken on the counter.
Malta's first-half supremacy yielded a third goal four minutes from half-time. Defender Jonathan Caruana applied the final touch after a well-crafted corner involving Cohen, André Schembri and Roderick Briffa.Just before half-time, the Faroe Islands missed a good chance to get back into the game as Klettskaro fired just wide at the end of a counter-attack.
Faroe Islands were the more enterprising side in the early stages of the second half as they pushed for a goal that would revive their hopes.Daniel Udsen was dangerous with a fierce drive that flew over the crossbar.
The hosts managed to break out of their half on the hour. Mifsud darted into the box from the left but his effort was blocked by Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, a second-half substitute.
At the other end, Udsen dragged in a menacing cross from the right which was deflected wide by Andrei Agius.Hogg, the Malta goalkeeper, then thwarted the Faroe Islands with a fine tipping save from Heini Vatsdal's screamer.
But the Malta goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Faroe Islands from pulling one back 10 minutes from time as he was beaten by Hallur Hansson's powerful strike from inside the box.
Baldvinsson bolstered Faroe Islands' comeback hopes as his shot from the distance caught Hogg by surprise, the ball going in after hitting the inside of a post.
When Faroe Islands forced a corner in stoppage time, Nielsen, their goalkeeper, ran upfield in a bid to unsettle the Maltese defence.Hansson's corner was temporarily cleared by Terencve Vella and Klettskaro's far-post header was saved by Hogg.
Malta - An. Hogg, J. Caruana, A. Agius, R. Fenech, C. Failla, R. Briffa (88 T. Vella), M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (83 M. Scerri), A. Schembri, J. Mintoff, A. Muscat.
Faroe Islands - G. Nielsen, J. Tor Naes, R. Balvinsson, P.J. Justinussen, E. Jacobsen, C.R. Mouritsen (46 S.R. Nattestad), D. Udsen (83 R. Joensen), H. Hansson, H. Vatnsdal (86 K. Lokin), P.A. Klettskaro, K.A. Olsen (71 S. Vatnhamar).Referee Marcin Borski (Poland).