Malta 1
Scicluna 10;
Sweden 2
Milosevic 29; Guidetti 69;

Malta may have failed to open their account in this qualifying campaign but they earned the admiration of the few who braved the cold weather to attend the encounter with Sweden.

In their previous outing, Malta had suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Sweden but yesterday was a different story as the home team gave as much as they got despite missing two key players in Bjorn Kristensen and Zach Muscat.

Their efforts were not rewarded as Sweden fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 with the dejected Maltese players ruing their ill-luck as they walked off the pitch at the final whistle, having created three clear chances in the last 15 minutes, all emanating from the feet of the rejuvenated Jean Paul Farrugia who also hit the post from a free-kick.

Having seen his players apply themselves with great determination and also producing some fine moves, you can’t blame coach Ray Farrugia to feel disappointed, moreso as doubts lingered as to whether the ball had crossed the line for Sweden's equaliser.

Inside the opening four minutes, Ryan Scicluna's diagonal pass just eluded Jurgen Pisani. The Pietà winger played to the left of Farrugia, the team's central striker, with Steve Pisani on the right of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Pietà’s Cain Attard made his debut with Ryan Micallef, the Rabat striker, also making his first appearance for the U-21s after coming on in the second half.

Malta’s bright start to the match was rewarded with a goal after 10 minutes.

Defender Filip Helander made a hash of controlling the ball as he tried to block an innocuous pass from midfield and Scicluna duly capitalised. He advanced before beating August Stromberg with an accurate shot.

Helander threatened to make amends as he was first to Ludwig Augustinsson's corner but his drive was blocked by the home defence.

Malta survived a scare moments later as John Guidetti's cross from the left soared towards Mikael Ishak but his header sailed over the bar.

Scicluna’s clever probing and effective shielding of the ball typified Malta's resolute performance in the early stages.

However, home optimism suffered a setback on 29 minutes as Sweden equalised.

It was a poor goal as Augustinsson's corner was met by Alexander Milosevic. His downward header was deflected goalwards with the assistant referee signalling that the ball had crossed the line, much to the dismay of the red-shirted players.

A low drive by Ishak ended inches wide as Sweden, buoyed by their equaliser, clicked into gear.

Ishak then darted past Christian Grech but fired against the side-netting. Jurgen Borg made a good save as he pushed away Guidetti's volley after the Malta defence had failed to clear a long ball.

On the verge of half-time, another glaring mistake by Sweden gifted Malta an inviting opening.

Stromberg's miscued clearance fell to Farrugia who ran through but his flicked effort was pawed away by the goalkeeper who thus atoned for his error.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Borg blocked Helander’s header from another corner by Augustinsson as Sweden re-mained the brisker side.

Ishak blasted over from outside the box after the Maltese defenders had partially cleared a free-kick.

Grech then came to Malta’s rescue as he hurled his body in the way of Ishak's goalbound effort after the hosts had again struggled to stop a Swedish incursion down the left.

Sweden put their noses in front with 21 minutes remaining, Guidetti curled his free-kick beyond the wall and into the top corner after the incoming Lydon Micallef had committed a foul just outside the box.

Malta were unlucky not to equalise 15 minutes from time. Milosevic barged into Farrugia and, from the free-kick, the Hibs forward’s rising drive rattled the upright.

Gaining in confidence, Malta fashioned another chance as Scicluna supplied an inviting ball to Farrugia who accelerated into the box before chipping the ball over the on-rushing Stromberg but Milosevic tracked back to head the ball clear.

Five minutes from time, Malta were again close to an equaliser as Farrugia’s crisp drive grazed the base of the post.

Malta
J. Borg, C. Attard, C. Grech, S. Pisani (67 L. Micallef), C. Borg, J. Pisani (76 R. Micallef), L. Cutajar, R. Camenzuli, R. Scicluna, D. Zerafa, J.P. Farrugia.

Sweden
A. Stromberg, M. Johansson, A. Milosevic, F. Helander, L. Augustinsson, V. Claesson, O. Lewicki, A. Blomqvist (71 K. Olsson) R. Quasin (58 S. Kroom), J. Guidetti, M. Ishak (85 C. Nymam).

Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania FA).

Group Seven