Malta 0
Israel 2
Refaelov 10; Gershon 90;
There was no happy hurrah for Malta at the end of a wretched Euro 2012 qualifying campaign as the national team crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Israel in their final Group F outing yesterday.
A return to home comforts had heightened optimism of an uplifting finale for Malta in their clash with an Israeli team who had been pilloried by their own media for their perennial failure to reach the finals.
A bright opening by Malta further fuelled local hopes but the match followed the usual depressing pattern for our team who surrendered their confidence after Israel opened the scoring on 10 minutes.
For most of the first half, Malta played second fiddle to Israel who seemed capable of scoring every time they ventured forward.
Tactical cohesion was non-existent as John Buttigieg’s decision to start with Paul Fenech on the right of midfield backfired.
He struggled in what was a new role for him and offered little protection to right-back Roderick Briffa with the result that Israel posed a constant threat on that flank.
Buttigieg had been buoyed by the return from injury of Michael Mifsud and Jonathan Caruana but his decision to drop André Schembri took many by surprise as the Panionios forward is one of the most creative and experienced elements of the Malta squad, although it has to be said that his recent performances in a Malta shirt left much to be desired.
As happened in the Latvia qualifier last Friday, Malta enjoyed their best patch in the second half and, for the second game in a row, only the woodwork denied them an equaliser as a glancing header by Gareth Sciberras ricocheted off the crossbar.
It was harsh on Malta to concede a second goal, in stoppage time but then again, our team had done too little to deserve a share of the points against opponents who piled up several scoring chances.
The defeat meant that Malta failed to improve on their showing in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers as in that competition, our team had finished bottom of the class with only one point.
Before the game, Bjorn Vassallo, the Malta FA CEO, and Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, the president of the Youth FA, presented mementoes to the four players who passed the 100-appearance mark for country.
The honoured players were David Carabott, Gilbert Agius, Carmel Busuttil and Joe Brincat.
It took Mifsud only four minutes to deliver a reminder of the pace and flair he brings to Malta’s attack.
Latching on to a pass from Woods, he darted into the box and hit a shot that flashed against the side-netting.
Two minutes later, Carlo Mamo made progress on the left before whipping a cross towards the far post where the leaping Paul Fenech could only chest the ball wide.
The hitherto subdued Israel fashioned their first chance when Lior Refaelov let fly a rising shot that drifted high and wide.
This opportunity proved to be the preamble to Israel’s opener which came on 10 minutes.
Talb Tawatha set off on a mazy run on the left, cut into the box and teed up Refaelov. As Hogg rushed off his line to try and cut out the cross, Refaelov lifted the ball before hitting home from close range.
Another swift move by the visitors had the Malta defenders in a tangle as Ben Sahar sped into the box from the left and his cross was partially cleared by Hogg. The loose ball fell to Maor Bar Buzaglo who looked odds-on to score but his piledriver was deflected away by Caruana.
Briffa rescued Malta from a potentially harmful situation as he sprinted into the box to strike the ball away from Sahar who had been sent clear by Buzaglo.
A powerful progression by Sciberras then culminated in a glorious chance for Malta. The Birkirkara midfielder passed to Woods who flicked the ball behind the Israeli defence and towards Mifsud who strode forward, veered into the box but his effort was parried by Dudu Aouate, the Israel goalkeeper.
Israel coach Luis Fernandez may not have brought his strongest squad to Malta but the players he put out on the field were clearly willing to impress. On one occasion, Hemed released Eyal Golsa who advanced before shooting. Hogg managed to get a touch to the ball which twirled towards the near post but Agius cleared the danger.
Hogg distinguished himself with a top-class save from Hemed’s downward header.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Refaelov sparked chaos in the Malta defence as he breezed past Agius. Out came Hogg to close down Refaelov who tricked his way past the goalkeeper before crossing for Sahar who headed over with the goal at his mercy.
Five minutes from half-time, Briffa halted Tawatha’s incursion and lofted the ball over the top of Israel’s defence and towards the speeding Mifsud who volleyed high.
Refaelov tormented Malta again with a bursting run through the middle but Agius threw his body in the way of the Israel striker’s ferocious drive just before half-time.
Malta survived an almighty scare five minutes into the second half when Sahar advanced unimpeded but his initial effort was pawed away by Hogg. Sahar was first to the rebound but his header crashed against the bar.
Further evidence of Malta’s troubles to counter Israel’s threat on the right came on 64 minutes when, once more, Sahar charged into the box but Caruana nudged the ball away from the Auxerre forward.
Buttigieg made his first substitution on 64 minutes, Edward Herrera coming on for Paul Fenech.
Malta enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, Woods lobbing wide after spotting Aouate out of position.
With 18 minutes to go, Malta were unfortunate not to equalise when Fenech’s measured cross from the left was met by Sciberras whose powerful header shook the crossbar with the ball dropping just outside the goal-line.
Woods then created space for a shot but his low effort was easily saved by Aouate.
Hogg fisted Bibars Natcho’s free-kick over the bar but in stoppage time, Israel rubber-stamped their win with a second goal.
Natcho’s set-piece cross from the right sailed towards the towering Rami Gershon whose looping header stunned Hogg in goal.
Malta
A. Hogg, J. Caruana (82 S. Borg), C. Mamo, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, R. Fenech, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, P. Fenech (64 E. Herrera), J. Hutchinson, I. Woods (80 C. Caruana).
Israel
D. Aouate, D. Bondaru (57 G.W. Vermouth), R. Gershon, B. Natcho, L. Refaelov (49 A. Cohen), M.B. Buzaglo, N. Bitton, T. Tawatha, T. Hemed, B. Sahar, E. Golsa.
Referee: Bruno Miguel Paixao (Portugal).
Yellow cards: Woods; Agius.
Attendance: 2,164.
Malta players’ ratings
Hogg-6, Caruana-7, Mamo-5, Sciberras-8, Agius-7, R. Fenech-5.5, Briffa-6, Mifsud-6, P. Fenech-5, Hutchinson-6, Woods-6.5.
Substitute: Herrera 5.