Bulgaria 1
Galabinov 6;
Malta 1
Failla 49 pen;

It was all-hands-to-the-pump in the end but Malta’s resilience paid off.

Returning to the scene of their most harrowing experience in Pietro Ghedin’s second spell as coach, a 6-0 drubbing in arctic weather, Malta endured a terrible start to their Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria, conceding inside the opening six minutes.

Fears of another rout loomed large as the hosts rampaged forward in search of goals, pummeling the Maltese team who were initially unable to get to grips with Bulgaria’s movement as Luboslav Penev’s men attacked from all angles.

Our defenders gasped for breath and the midfielders ran here and there to contain the advancing Bulgarians but the latter’s failure to break down resolute Malta and score a second goal left the result in the balance.

Stepping up to the challenge as the first half gathered pace, Malta not only fought like warriors, they began to ask questions of the Bulgaria three-man defence that looked vulnerable under pressure.

In the past, the old dictum that luck favours the brave didn’t really ring true for Malta as we suffered last-gasp upsets but this time their bold endeavours were richly rewarded.

Undeterred after being denied a seemingly legitimate penalty for a handling infringement towards the end of the first half, Malta scored a deserved equaliser when Clayton Failla converted from the spot early in the second half.

What ensued was an indefatigable effort from the Maltese players who showed admirable fighting spirit and courage, hurling bodies to repel waves of attacks as the panicky Bulgarians threw everything in attack.

There were many outstanding performers for Malta.

Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg pulled off some crucial saves, stand-in captain Roderick Briffa was at the heart of the team’s best moves, Paul Fenech was his usual dynamic self in midfield and in attack, Andre Schembri and Jean Paul Farrugia never stopped chasing balls.

It was indeed a heart-on-sleeve showing from Malta, one that will surely have delighted Ghedin who, after leading the team to a famous win at Armenia in the World Cup qualifiers, has now masterminded another positive result away from home.

With Farrugia confirmed as Michael Mifsud’s replacement on the eve of the match, Ghedin’s initial XI had contained no surprises.

Jonathan Caruana was back in his familiar centre-half role in a three-man defensive shield.

Partnering Caruana at the back were Andrei Agius and Ryan Camilleri with Zach Muscat moving across to right-back and Clayton Failla on the left.

Briffa started alongside Rowen Muscat and Fenech with Schembri playing off Farrugia up front.

A delegation from Serbian club Cukaricki, led by former Floriana coach Zoran Popovic, drove to Sofia yesterday to run the rule over some Malta players.

A clash with unfancied opponents, allied with Bulgaria’s disappointing start to their Euro 2016 qualifying trek, had failed to excite the fans. Up to 30 minutes before kick-off, the Vassil Levski Stadium was virtually empty and, by the time the two teams emerged from the tunnel, only a few hundred fans had turned up.

Meanwhile, a group of bubbly Maltese fans were doing their best to make themselves heard.

The beleaguered Penev showed his dissatisfaction at his side’s performance in the 2-1 defeat away to Norway by making five team changes.

Ludogorets goalkeeper Vladi-slav Stoyanov and team-mates George Terziev and Mihail Alexandrov, Dinamo Moscow’s Stanislav Manolev and Livorno forward Andrej Galabinov were all handed starting roles.

It was not long before the hosts broke the deadlock.

The danger emanated from the feet of the roaming Ivelin Popov whose inviting cross into the box was headed on by Alexandrov towards the lanky Galabinov who stooped to flick the ball past Hogg from routine distance.

Galabinov looked to have strayed offside as he latched on to the ball but the match official deemed otherwise.

The Malta defenders were betraying signs of uneasiness in those early stages.

Their hesitancy was there for all to see when Galabinov managed to get first the ball despite being surrounded by a sea of red shirts but luckily for Malta he chipped the ball over the bar.

Malta were up against it as Bulgaria poured forward in numbers, always leaving three players up front while their midfielders interchanged and overlapped in search of openings.

Alexandrov cut in from the right after another intelligent move but his pass towards Popov was cleared away.

There was a scare for the red-shirted players on 25 minutes as Milanov’s cross soared towards Galabinov who cushioned the ball with his chest in the box but his volley shook the crossbar.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Briffa tried his luck from the distance but his effort was off target. There was a better chance for Malta as Camilleri’s raking ball from defence dropped invitingly to Zach Muscat. The Birkirkara wing-back opted to hit a first-time pass that rolled towards Fenech whose drive was deflected away for a corner.

From the flag-kick, Fenech’s cross was intercepted, the loose ball squirmed ball towards the pocket-sized midfielder but his ensuing grounder was saved by Stoyanov. The Maltese players plucked up courage.

Malta looked to have a legitimate claim for a penalty when Briffa, having elegantly lofted the ball over his marker, tried to release Farrugia but the ball came off Terziev’s arm.

Swedish ref Martin Strombergsson, however, was unmoved.

Galvanised by their improved showing just before the break, Malta began the second half very confidently.

And their efforts reaped rewards four minutes into the second half.

A flowing move saw the inspirational Briffa surge past two players before exchanging passes with Schembri. He slipped the ball to Farrugia who was brought down by Mitev.

The referee pointed to the spot and Failla dispatched his shot past Stoyanov.

The hosts were shell-shocked.

Three minutes later, Fenech’s corner was met by Schembri but his sliced header found no takers.

Penev had seen enough. He made a double substitution, bringing on Ilian Micanski and Marquinhos for Galabinov and Milanov.

A swift Bulgaria move unpicked the Malta defence but Hogg made a fine save to deny Alexandrov.

Bulgaria upped the ante.

They were denied a second goal by the woodwork as Popov’s looping header, from Manolev’s cross, came off the upright.

With the passing of minutes, Bulgaria began to show signs of panic. Manolev was high from outside the box.

Then, a rash challenge by Rowen Muscat on the incoming Micanski looked to have shattered Malta’s hopes as Strombergsson whistled for a penalty but Popov blasted high from the spot.

Ghedin made a tactical substitution, sending on Ryan Fenech for Schembri. Steve Bezzina came on for the hobbling Failla.

Alexander Tonev, who had just replaced Iliev, had an angled shot deflected away for a corner after good work by Alexandrov.

When Malta failed to clear a cross, danger loomed as the ball landed at the feet of Marquinhos just inside the box. The CSKA Sofia forward played in Minev but his cross-cum-shot drifted across the face of goal.

Malta were hanging in as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time.

Hogg did well to fist the ball away from Popov as Bulgaria floated the ball into the box.

Hogg then denied Tonev as the gutsy Maltese players threw bodies in the way of shots for a merited point, their first in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Bulgaria
V. Stoyanov, G. Terziev, N. Bodurov, M. Alexandrov, I. Popov, S. Manolev, V. Minev, A. Galabinov (58 I. Micanski), G. Milanov (58 Marquinhos), S. Dyakov, G. Iliev (71 A. Tonev).

Malta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana, P. Fenech, A. Agius, C. Failla (80 S. Bezzina), R. Briffa, J.P. Farrugia (90 T. Vella), R. Muscat, A. Schembri (78 R. Fenech), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat.

Referee: M. Strombergsson (Sweden).

Yellow cards: Farrugia; Fenech, Failla; Minev; Caruana.

Missed penalty: Popov (B) 76.

Malta players’ ratings
Hogg-7, Caruana-7, Fenech-8, Agius-7, Failla-7, Briffa-8.5, Farrugia-7, R. Muscat-7, Schembri-8, Camilleri-7, Z. Muscat-7.

Aftermatch comments...

Pietro Ghedin (coach)

“We respect everyone even those who criticise us. This was a great match we had... this point is a real one.”

Ray Farrugia (assistant coach)

“The 1-1 draw is nothing less than what we deserved. At times, particularly in the second half, we looked better than our opponents who were playing at home.

“Today, we had a good performance so we have to look at this result as a starting point for further improvement.”

Paul Fenech

“We’ve been waiting for this result after the good showing against Italy.

“Conceding an early goal is becoming a bad habit, however, so we need to improve in that aspect but the reaction came from everyone... we deserved the result.

“We also want to thank the few national team supporters who made the trip to Sofia as although outnumbered their backing was felt and appreciated throughout the match.”