Malta 3
Fenech 18; Mifsud 20; Caruana 41;
Faroe Islands 2
Hansson 80; Baldvinsson 87;

On the eve of this friendly, Pietro Ghedin was surprised to discover that Malta had lost their previous three meetings with Faroe Islands.

That dismal record will have reinforced the coach’s determination to steer Malta to victory as the national side sought to restore some lost pride and dispel the gloom that engulfed local football after last month’s chastening defeats to Czech Republic and Denmark.

For much of the first half, it looked as though Malta were on the way to an emphatic success after Ryan Fenech’s 18th minute thunderbolt was followed by two well-worked goals from captain Michael Mifsud and Jonathan Caruana.

The dominant hosts closed down ceaselessly in that opening period, with John Mintoff and Andrew Cohen dynamic figures on the wings, and Fenech combining well with Roderick Briffa in the middle.

Defensively, Malta were also sound while in attack, Mifsud and Schembri were full of intelligent movement.

Yet, the complexion of the game changed in the second half with Malta toiling to cope with the blustery conditions and Faroe Islands’ incessant forays into the box.

Two late goals set up a nervy finale as the visitors, keen to retain bragging rights over their fellow minnows, refused to give in but Malta kept their nerves in check to protect their slender lead.

In spite of their second-half travails, Malta deserved their win yesterday.

The hard-earned success ensured a positive conclusion to another roller-coaster year for the national team who have mixed some resolute performances, especially in the September qualifiers against Denmark and Bulgaria and in the away win over Armenia, with some poor displays.

Having lost his place in goal to Justin Haber after the 6-0 defeat to Bulgaria in March, Andrew Hogg was yesterday given the chance to stake his claim for the no.1 jersey.

In defence, Andrei Agius and Caruana occupied the centre-half roles with Alex Muscat and Clayton Failla on the flanks.

Deprived of Gareth Sciberras and Rowen Muscat due to injuries, Ghedin handed a start to Fenech whose task was to shield the back four alongside Briffa. Cohen and Mintoff started on the wings with Schembri playing off lone striker Mifsud who was making his 102nd appearance.

Ghedin’s insistence on bringing Mifsud all the way from Australia reflected the coach’s determination to field his strongest team as Malta looked to end their 2013 commitments on a heartening note.

The game was off to a slow start. Malta’s first chance came courtesy of Cohen who reclaimed possession just outside the box but his shot rolled into the grateful hands of goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, who plays for Motherwell.

Fenech then lifted the boredom with a superb goal.

Retrieving possession deep in the opponents’ half, he strode forward before hitting a rasping drive that soared past the diving Nielsen and into the top corner of the net.

Buoyed by his stunning goal, Fenech made another telling contribution two minutes later as his through-ball released Mifsud. Some quick movement propelled him past Erlin Jacobsen and with his next touch, Mifsud flicked a low shot past Nielsen.

Malta were now pouring forward confidently but the Faroese upped the tempo as the first half wore on. They would have pulled a goal back but for a fine save from Hogg who pawed away a dangerous shot by Pall A. Klettskaro.

Ghedin’s men regained the upperhand after weathering their opponents’ pressure.

The clever probing of Mifsud and Schembri tormented the tall Faroese defenders, Cohen was linking up play superbly and Mintoff was having a great game on the right.

It was thanks to Mintoff’s persistence that Malta won a corner from which they increased their lead.

The set-piece was surely practised during training as Cohen played the ball short to Schembri who dragged it back to Briffa. The latter’s return pass, driven through the middle, ran to Cohen and his cross was turned in by Caruana.

Three goals down, Faroe Islands needed to strike early in the second half if they were to bolster their comeback hopes.

As was to be expected, they emerged in fighting mood, effectively pinning Malta in their own half for much of the opening 15 minutes after the restart.

The closest Faroe Islands came to reducing the arrears was through a ferocious drive from Daniel Udsen which sailed over the bar.

Now playing against the wind, Malta were finding it hard to rediscover the fluidity of the opening half.

There was a promising moment for the hosts when Mifsud drifted into the box from the left but his effort was blocked by Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, a second-half substitute.

At the other end, Udsen whipped in a menacing cross from the right which induced Agius to leap and flick the ball sideways. Hogg appeared to get a touch to the ball, making sure that his goal remained intact.

Malta were quick to respond, getting the ball into Nielsen’s box where Mifsud closed in on goal only to be anticipated by the keeper.

Determined to seize his chance, Hogg was prominent again when pulling off another top-drawer save to tip Heini Vatsdal’s shot over the bar.

But the Malta keeper could do nothing to stop Faroe Islands from pulling one back when Hallur Hansson drilled a shot into the net.

Ghedin waited until seven minutes from time to effect his first substitution, bringing on defensive midfielder Mark Scerri for Cohen.

Faroe Islands were back in the game when, with three minutes remaining, Rogvi Baldvinsson’s shot from the distance caught Hogg unawares, the ball ricocheting off the inside of the post before dropping beyond the line.

Terence Vella came on for Briffa as Schembri dropped into midfield. When Faroe Islands won a corner in stoppage time, keeper Nielsen charged upfield in a bid to unsettle the Maltese defence.

Hansson’s delivery was partially cleared by Vella and Klettskaro’s header was stopped by Hogg.

Aftermatch comments

Pietro Ghedin (Malta coach): “This was a story of two halves and two faces. We were clearly superior in the opening 45 minutes where we managed to score three goals. However, after the interval the team suffered a collapse, physically and psychologically, and Faroe Islands were back in the match.

“This result somehow alleviates the disappointment in our last two matches against the Czech Republic and Denmark. All in all, I am moderately satisfied with our overall showing in 2013 and, hopefully, we can continue to improve in the coming year.”

Lars Olsen (Faroe Islands coach): “The result is rather harsh on us as I think we were the better team over the entire 90 minutes.

“Unfortunately, we committed two costly mistakes that handed Malta their second and third goals and that made it more difficult on us. In the second half the team put up a strong reaction but still we could not avoid defeat.

“Today, we had an almost new team with only three players in the squad that played in the World Cup qualifiers. This match will serve our young lads in good stead for the future.”

Malta
A. 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 FA).

Yellow cards Briffa; Agius; Baldvinsson.

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