Alfred Effiong runs past Andrea Bertolacci during yesterday’s match in Florence. Photos: Paul Zammit Cutajar

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin felt his team could have done more after his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Italy in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last night.

A Graziano Pellè goal midway through the second half handed Italy the three points in a match which saw the hosts struggle to break down a solid Malta defence.

“It was a very positive performance but I cannot be happy as we are returning home with no points in the bag,” Ghedin told reporters after the match.

“Maybe there was a foul in the build-up to the goal but we conceded during a spell when Italy were pressuring us a lot.

“There were many positive things in our performance. We created a number of scoring chances but we couldn’t take them and that is disappointing.

“No doubt our team should do more on such occasions and we have to pull up our socks and work harder to try and perform better because I think today we could have taken something from the match.”

Malta midfielder Paul Fenech charges forward ahead of Marco Verratti, of Italy.

Malta striker Alfred Effiong echoed Ghedin’s sentiments that the team did not deserve to lose.

“We were a bit unlucky on the goal (since the striker touched the ball with his hand) but that is football,” he added.

Singled out as the most dangerous Maltese player by Italy coach Antonio Conte, Effiong opted to focus on the team’s performance.

“I think we did a good game, it was not about me but about our team collectively.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s match against Azerbaijan, Effiong said he hoped that the Maltese fans will fill the National Stadium to give their backing to the players.

“With the support of the Maltese fans, we can build upon this match to achieve a good result against Azerbaijan on Sunday,” he said.

On his part, Conte was visibly disappointed in seeing his Azzurri failing to impose their superior possession and create scoring opportunities.

“When you fail to kill off the game, then it becomes difficult to keep your opponents at arm’s length,” the Italy coach said.

“At this level, they are no more minnows, be it Malta or Azerbaijan, every team will be a hard nut to crack”.

Goalscorer Graziano Pellé, who had scored Italy’s winner in the first match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali, said that he holds no personal grudge against Malta but it’s his job to score goals.

Asked whether he had touched the ball with his hands before slotting it behind Andrew Hogg, he said: “I do not remember but we suffered too much against Malta.”