Malta striker Alfred Effiong runs at the Azerbaijan defence. Photo: Paul Zammit CutajarMalta striker Alfred Effiong runs at the Azerbaijan defence. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar

Malta 2
Mifsud 55; Effiong 71;
Azerbaijan 2
Amirguliyev 36, 80;

This was a game of fluctuating fortunes for Malta.

For most of the opening 45 minutes half, hopes of a first win for Malta in Euro 2016 Group H looked misplaced as Azerbaijan were by far the brighter side, going in for the half-time break a goal to the good.

Much of the soaring optimism about Malta’s prospects of overcoming Azerbaijan, who were themselves coming from a morale-boosting draw against Croatia, had stemmed from the team’s tenacious showing against Italy four days earlier but, in that opening half, the home side were unrecognisable from Thursday’s game.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin had switched to four at the back in a bid to strengthen his team’s attacking threat but his initial decision to deploy the in-form Alfred Effiong on the wing and behind the recalled Michael Mifsud clearly didn’t produce the desired effect.

The Nigeria-born striker struggled to make an impact on the wing while his team-mates toiled to establish a modicum of control in midfield as Azerbaijan, in keeping with their resurgence of late, showed that they are no pushovers.

A coach of Ghedin’s experience can’t have failed to discern his team’s tactical flaws in the first half and, to his credit, his half-time adjustments rejuvenated Malta.

Everything revolved around Effiong. Pushed further upfield, Effiong began to make his presence felt but it was the whole Maltese team who performed better in the second half.

Effiong’s direct movement alleviated the burden on Mifsud while the likes of Andrè Schembri, who had looked out of place in an advanced midfield position, Roderick Briffa and Rowen Muscat also found their feet.

The revival produced instant rewards as clinical strikes from Mifsud, his 40th goal for the national team, and Effiong swayed the balance in Malta’s favour only for Azerbaijan’s stirring reaction to yield a deserved equaliser in a pulsating second half.

All in all, the drawn outcome was a fair result and a satisfying one for Malta, considering the way the game evolved.

It was certainly not their most emphatic performance in these qualifiers, especially in that disappointing opening half, but the players deserve credit for their character and never-say-die attitude which rewarded Malta with their second point in Group H.

The experienced Mifsud, who had been left out of the initial formation for the qualifier against Italy, spearheaded Malta’s attack as Ghedin initially settled on 4-1-4-1 with Effiong on the right and Schembri behind the striker.

Mifsud’s return was not the only change from Thursday’s game as Ghedin’s decision to revert to four at the back brought a recall for Ryan Camilleri who was drafted in at left-back at the expense of Zach Muscat.

The absence of first-choice midfielder Paul Fenech, suspended, had raised the prospect of a start for the young Bjorn Kristensen but Ghedin opted for experience as he deployed Clayton Failla on the left with Rowen Muscat sitting in front of the back four with Roderick Briffa in support.

Andrei Agius and Steve Borg filled the two centre-half roles with Alex Muscat on the right and Andrew Hogg in goal.

Azerbaijan coach Robert Prosinecki opted for 4-3-3 with Qarabag duo Javid Taghiyev and Afran Ismayilov playing either side of Ruslan Gurbanov, who is on the books of Netfchi.

The Azeris looked more comfortable on the ball in the early stages despite the stifling heat as Malta took a while to get to grips with their modified tactical approach.

Taghiyev drifted dangerously into the box from the right but his cross-shot took a deflection before the Malta defenders cleared.

There was little in the way of creative football in the first 12 minutes but home optimism rose when Schembri bore down goal through the middle before playing in Effiong but the Balzan striker was anticipated by a defender.

There was a good chance for Malta on 27 minutes when Briffa’s miscued first-timer skewed the ball towards the right and into the path of Alex Muscat who dragged in a dangerous cross.

Mifsud was first to the ball but his first touch was heavy.

The game remained largely a humdrum affair with Malta struggling for fluency. Their evening took a negative twist when Azerbaijan struck nine minutes from half-time.

After repelling Schembri’s attempt to create space as he latched on to Mifsud’s cross, the Azeris quickly switched the ball forward, again making headway on the right as they had done on a number of occasions in the first half.

For a moment, it looked as though Malta had averted the danger but their failure to clear proved costly as the loose ball fell to Rahid Amirguliyev whose drive from outside the box soared past Hogg after taking a deflection off Borg.

Boos echoed around the stadium as the home fans protested against Austrian referee Harald Lechner’s decision not to sanction what looked like a foul on Effiong which stopped a promising Malta attack.

Something had to change at half-time as Malta had looked bereft of ideas in the opening period.

Ghedin kept faith with the players who started the game but instructed Effiong to operate in tandem with Mifsud.

Sensing the hosts’ difficulties to get going, the home fans upped their backing and the players responded immediately.

The second half was only 10 minutes old when Schembri embarked on a surging run through the middle before releasing Effiong. Azerbaijan defender Badavi Huseynov cut across to block Effiong’s run but the latter’s persistence paid off as he was first to the hasty clearance before picking out Mifsud whose rasping drive from outside the box gave Kamran Agayev no chance.

Mifsud celebrated by making the no.40 sign with his fingers, in reference to his record-extending goals tally for the national team, before being embraced by his team-mates.

Azerbaijan threatened to regain their lead but Ismayilov’s effort was tipped away by the alert Hogg.

Just past the hour, Mifsud left to a standing ovation as he made way for Andrew Cohen.

Azerbaijan threatened but Ismayilov’s piledriver was palmed away by Hogg.

While Mifsud’s equaliser galvanised Malta, Azerbaijan quickly delivered another reminder of their attacking threat.

They would have restored their advantage but for a splendid reflex save from Hogg who pushed Gurbanov’s close-range screamer onto the post after Amirguliyev had teed up the Azerbaijan no.10. From the possibility of going down, Malta forged ahead.

The goal again owed much to Effiong’s speed and perseverance as the pacey striker roared forward to reach Schembri’s through-ball.

Huseynov’s challenge only served to send the ball ricocheting off Effiong as the Malta striker burst through before hammering home for his second goal in a Malta shirt.

Azerbaijan refused to lie down. They summoned a bold reaction as they looked for an equaliser.

With 12 minutes remaining, substitute Araz Abdullayev twisted and turned before aiming a low shot that was touched away by Hogg.

But, in their next attacking foray, Azerbaijan equalised.

Taghiyev was the architect as his diagonal run on the left, possibly from an offside position, had the Maltese defence on the backfoot.

His cut-back set up Amirguliyev who had time and space to drill a low shot into the bottom corner.

Ghedin satisfied

Pietro Ghedin was satisfied after Malta produced a gallant second-half performance, to turn the tables on Azerbaijan but ultimately had to settle for a point.

“Double-headers are very demanding as it’s hard to play two high-tempo games in three days,” the Malta coach said.

“Our players’ physical condition was below-par today. We suffered a collapse in the first half but reacted well in the second half, scoring two beautiful goals.

“However, it was always going to be difficult for us to keep Azerbaijan at bay as physically we struggled a lot.”

Malta
A. Hogg, A. Muscat, A. Agius, C. Failla (85 S. Pisani), R, Briffa, M. Mifsud (62 A. Cohen), R. Muscat, A. Schembri, S. Borg, R. Camilleri (79 J. Zerafa), A. Effiong.

Azerbaijan
K. Agayev, G. Garayev, M. Mirzabekov, B. Huseynov, R. Gurbanov (81 R. Aliyev), D. Nazarov (70 R.A. Sadygov), R.F. Sadygov, R. Amirguliyev, J. Taghiyev, A. Dashdemirov, A. Ismayilov (72 A. Abdullayev).

Referee: H. Lechner (Austria).

Yellow card: Effiong.

Attendance: 5,266.

Malta players’ ratings
Hogg-7, A. Muscat-6, Agius-7, Failla-6, Briffa-6.5, Mifsud-6.5, R. Muscat-6.5, Schembri-6.5, Borg-6.5, Camilleri-6, Effiong-7.5.

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