ITALY 1 MALTA 0
Malta left the pitch with no points but with their pride intact after producing a spirited performance in tonight's Euro 2016 Group H qualifier against Italy in Florence.
Graziano Pellè's second-half goal handed Italy a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Malta who not only battled bravely throughout to frustrate their opponents but also created some good passing moves when in possession.
This was always going to be a gruelling game for Malta who were forced to play catch-up, especially in the second half when Italy upped their rhythm in search of a breakthrough, but their resilience and tactical discipline were admirable.
Alfred Effiong, applauded by the Italian fans when he came off in stoppage time, had two good chances to score but he was not the only Malta player to catch the eye as Andrei Agius was brilliant at the back, Rowen Muscat impressed in midfield and Andrè Schembri did some useful work before being replaced late in the game.
The Malta players were cheered by the visiting fans at the final whistle while Italy were clearly happy and relieved to have secured the three points that lift them above Croatia at the top.
In a half-empty Artemio Franchi Stadium, the 200-odd flag-waving supporters who flew to Florence earlier today on a chartered flight organised by the South End Core were making themselves heard.
Before kick-off, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat took his seat alongside other dignitaries in the VIP zone.
At the request of the Italian football federation and the Malta FA, a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the migrant tragedies in the Mediterranean was observed before kick-off.
Malta coach Pietro Ghedin preferred Alfred Effiong to Michael Mifsud as the attacking spearhead in a 5-3-2 formation.
Alfred Effiong, identified as Malta's most dangerous player by Conte on the eve of the game, was charged with the onus of spearheading the attack as captain Michael Mifsud had to make do with a place on the bench.
As was to be expected, Italy coach Antonio Conte changeed to 4-3-3 with veteran Andrea Pirlo starting his 116th game for Italy in the holding midfield role.
In the opening minutes, Pirlo's curling free-kick came off Effiong's head with the ball flashed wide of a post.
Italy dominated possession.
Hogg cut out Pellè's cut-back after the towering striker had anticipated Agius who tried to shepherd the ball out of play.
The Malta goalkeeper then stopped a cross-cum-shot from Manuel Pasqual, Italy's left-back.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved a central drive from Rowen Muscat after Andrè Schembri had intelligently won a free-kick.
Malta showed signs of improvement but Italy remained in control.
After Marco Verratti's piledriver was deflected away for a corner, Pellè headed over from Pirlo's corner.
A sequence of crisp passes by Malta ended with Briffa, handed the captain's armband in Mifsud's absence, hitting a low cross-shot that was missed by Giorgio Chiellini but Leonardo Bonucci cleared the danger.
On another occasion, Effiong advanced menacingly on the left before cutting past Bonucci but his angled strike was wide.
The game came to lift. Hogg pushed away Eder's cross after the Samp forward had been set up by Pirlo.
Pellè, under pressure from Agius, sent his header over the bar from Pirlo's free-kick.
Fenech was cautioned for a late challenge on Verratti, meaning that the Birkirkara midfielder will miss Sunday's Azerbaijan qualifier as he was on two yellow cards.
With nine minutes of the first half remaining, Andrea Bertolacci strode forward on the left before hitting a shot that appeared to take a deflection off Alex Muscat but Hogg was alert to the danger.
Moments later, Eder produced a classy run as he dallied past Borg and Alex Muscat but his grounder rolled wide of the near post.
In first-half stoppage time, Pellè was first to Bonucci's but his flick was off target.
A lengthy Italy raid had Malta on the backfoot but when Agius cleared, a promising opening beckoned for Malta. Schembri controlled the ball before picking out Effiong who outpaced Chiellini but Bonucci tracked back to stop the Nigerian-born striker.
There was a scare for Malta early in the second half. As the Maltese players stood off in expectation of a Pirlo drive from a free-kick, the midfield maestro played the ball short to Darmian who ran into the box but his fierce drive was hooked away by Agius.
The danger was not over for Malta as the loose ball landed in the path of Pasqual but his effort was cleared by Fenech.
Italy raised their tempo in a bid to unhinge the opposing defence, Darmian, the Manchester United right-back, had a diagonal effort pushed away by Hogg before Gabbiadini was denied by the woodwork as his swerving effort rattled the crossbar.
Schembri's ability to shield the ball and glide past opponents gave Malta some breathing space.
A minute past the hour, Pellè averted Malta's offside ploy to latch on to Pasqual's pass but he shot against the side-netting.
Italy increased their pressure.
They nosed ahead on 69 minutes.
Antonio Candreva, who had just come on for Gabbiadini, curled in a teasing cross from the right and Pellè darted in to nudge the ball into the net, to the evident relief of Conte.
Bjorn Kristensen replaced the exhausted Schembri who had earlier required medical assistance for cramps.
Hogg prevented Italy from adding to their lead as he pulled off a fine save to paw away Marco Parolo's long-range effort after Darmian's run on the right had opened up Malta.
As tiredness crept into the Maltese team, Italy threatened to increase their advantage. Borg slid in to deny Chiellini who had stooped to reach Pirlo's corner. From the rebound, Eder flicked wide.
Italy
G. Buffon, G. Chiellini, M. Darmian, A. Bertolacci (55 M. Parolo), M. Verratti (77 R. Soriano), Eder, L. Bonucci, G. Pellè, A. Pirlo, M. Gabbiadini (64 A. Candreva), M. Pasqual.
Malta
An. Hogg, A. Muscat, A. Agius, P. Fenech, C. Failla, R. Briffa (90 G. Sciberras), R. Muscat, A. Schembri (73 B. Kristensen), S. Borg, A. Effiong (90 M. Mifsud), Z. Muscat.
Referee Ivan Kruzilak (Slovakia).