Effiong's goal has been touted by international media as one of the best goals in history.

Malta 2
Fenech 63; Effiong 80;
Lithuania 0

Football’s knack for throwing up the unexpected resurfaced last night.

A low-key friendly between European minnows Malta and the unfancied Lithuania had failed to excite the 950-odd crowd at the National Stadium as, for much of first half, the home team looked jaded and disjointed.

Malta were forced to play catch-up to this unspectacular Lithuania team who, despite their superior possession, rarely troubled the hosts beyond routine work.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin will not have been impressed with his side’s toothless performance in the opening 45 minutes but the tack changed in the second half, largely thanks to two outstanding goals from Paul Fenech and Alfred Effiong.

Fenech, flanking the enterprising Rowen Muscat in midfield, had set the ball rolling when his thunderous drive from outside the box three minutes past the hour gave Malta an unlikely lead.

Buttressed by Fenech’s opener, Ghedin’s men shifted through the gears with Rowen Muscat leading the charge from midfield and the incoming Edward Herrera offering greater impetus on the right after replacing Alex Muscat but it was another substitute, Nigeria-born striker Effiong who conjured up the game’s best moment.

Effiong, who had come on for the subdued Andrew Cohen, produced a stupendous goal 10 minutes from time, finishing off a bustling run with a thumping shot that had the entire crowd at Ta’ Qali on its feet to show its appreciation.

Although Malta’s performance, especially in the first half, left much to be desired, Fenech’s and Effiong’s great strikes, their first for the national team, lifted the entire squad as well as the home fans ahead of Friday’s Euro 2016 Group H qualifier against Bulgaria.

Yesterday’s win was eked out in difficult circumstances as Ghedin’s resources were decimated by injuries to a host of first-choice players.

The Italian tactician had been compelled to reshape his defence as Jonathan Caruana and Steve Borg are sidelined with knee problems.

Ryan Camilleri and Zach Muscat partnered Andrei Agius in the centre with Clayton Failla, back in the fray after missing the defeats to Georgia (friendly) and Azerbaijan (Euro 2016 qualifier), on the left and the returning Alex Muscat on the right.

In midfield, Ghedin kept faith with Roderick Briffa, Rowen Muscat and Fenech but in attack, there was a recall for two Malta veterans as captain Michael Mifsud was supported by Cohen.

Andre Schembri was among the substitutes as the Omonia Nicosia talisman is struggling with a slight injury while Effiong, who started the 2-0 reverse to Azerbaijan in Baku, lost his place to Mifsud.

The Sliema striker, the country’s all-time leading scorer with 39 goals, was making his first start for Malta since being sent off in the 1-0 defeat to Italy back in October.

Lithuania lined up in 4-2-3-1 fashion with Deivydas Matulevicius as lone striker.

The towering forward advanced menacingly from the left on five minutes only to miscue his effort.

The visitors, with captain Saulius Mikoliunas a lively figure on the left wing, dominated possession in the early stages but their efforts were easily withheld by the Malta defence.

Mikoliunas, who plays for Belorussian club Shakhtyor Soligorsk, was giving Alex Muscat a hard time down the left.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber, deputising for Andrew Hogg who is recovering from a fractured finger, did well to fist away Mantas Kuklys’s dangerous cross from a corner, after another Mikoliunas incursion had been stopped by Zach Muscat.

The erstwhile subdued Malta finally showed up in the Lithuanian half as Cohen directed an inviting cross into the box but Alex Muscat’s header was high.

On 24 minutes, Mikoliunas tormented Malta as the nippy winger, cutting in from the left, peeled away from Zach Muscat and Rowen Muscat but his progression was cut short by Andrei Agius’s late tackle.

Nothing came of the free-kick as Matulevicius’s drive was easily blocked by Haber.

The interchanging movement of Lithuania’s attacking midfield trio was causing problems to the Maltese team, especially on the wings where Alex Muscat and Failla hardly ventured beyond the halfway line in the opening half-hour.

Lithuania, who host Switzerland in their next Group E qualifier on Sunday, forced a series of corners in those initial exchanges but failed to capitalise on their early supremacy.

Malta’s first telling move, on 32 minutes, almost yielded an opener. Latching on to Alex Muscat’s headed assist, Mifsud controlled the ball before speeding clear but his well-hit drive was marginally wide.

At the other end, Haber again fisted away a Kuklys corner, the ball dropped to Vykintas Slivka but his screamer was charged down by Zach Muscat.

Malta clearly needed to step up their game if they were to make a contest of it in the second half.

Four minutes from the start of the second half had passed when Cohen’s swerving free-kick was met by Agius but his downward header was wide.

Alex Muscat and Failla tried to gain ground on the flanks, taking it in turns to push up when Malta had possession.

Lithuania threatened to take the lead seven minutes into the second half as Vytautus Lukja’s teasing cross just eluded Matulevcius, with the ball rolling to Mikoliunas whose effort came off a Malta defender.

Ghedin made his first substitution on 56 minutes, Herrera coming on for Alex Muscat. Effiong replaced Cohen on the hour.

Rather surprisingly, it was Malta who broke the deadlock on 63 minutes. Briffa’s corner from the right was partially cleared by the Lithuanian defence but the ball landed at the feet of Fenech who let fly a pulverising drive that soared past the diving Edvinas Gertmanas.

Moments later, Rowen Muscat tried to emulate his Birkirkara team-mate but his shot was wide as Malta tried to seize the initiative.

The inclusion of the mobile Effiong increased Malta’s attacking threat. With 10 minutes remaining, Effiong stole the limelight with a superb goal.

Retrieving possession just inside Malta’s half, Effiong set off on a powerful run on the left, surging clear of two Lithuania players before mustering a stunning shot that nestled into the top corner.

The crowd rose in unison to applaud Effiong’s effort.

Lithuania looked stunned. They tried to produce a reaction, Mikoliunas hitting a low drive that was blocked by Haber.

Malta
J. Haber, A. Muscat (56 E. Herrera), A. Agius, P. Fenech (80 R. Scicluna), C. Failla (82 J. Zerafa), R. Briffa (63 B. Kristensen), M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (60 A. Effiong), R. Muscat (89 A. Schembri), R. Camilleri, Z. Muscat.

Lithuania
E. Gertmanas, L. Klimaviciks (46 T. Kidanjkas), G. Freidgeimas, D. Cesnauskis (88 V. Andruiskevicius), E. Vaitkunas, D. Matulevicius (55 L. Spalvis), S. Mikoliunas, V. Lukja (83 S. Stanjkjevicius), V. Slivka (73 R. Baravykas), M. Kuklys (46 G. Sirgedas), M. Panka.

Referee: Sven Bindels (Luxembourg).

Yellow cards: Freidgeimas; Spalvis.

Attendance: 950.

Malta players' ratings
Haber-6.5, A. Muscat-6, Agius-6.5, Fenech-7, Failla-6, Briffa-6, Mifsud-6, Cohen-6, R. Muscat-8, Camilleri-6, Z. Muscat-6.5.

Subs: Herrera-7, Effiong-8, Kristensen-6.5.