Estonia 1
Zenjov 57
Malta 1
Effiong 58
A journey that began on the wrong foot ended on a better note as Malta warmed up for their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier at home to Scotland with a lively showing and a 1-1 draw against Estonia in Parnu, yesterday.
For a time earlier this week, it looked as though this friendly might be in jeopardy after the flight that was supposed to take the Malta squad to Tallinn on Monday re-mained grounded in Amsterdam but this glitch clearly didn’t dampen the team’s resolve as they gave as much as they got, especially in the second half when Andrè Schembri was denied the winner by the post.
Malta had been somewhat slow out of the blocks, not surprising given their travel complications, but grew in stature to the satisfaction of coach Pietro Ghedin who will have extracted a lot of positives from this encounter.
Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg repaid the Italian coach’s faith with a reassuring display, the backline was solid, Paul Fenech and Gareth Sciberras were their usual industrious selves in midfield and, further upfield, the quick-moving Luke Gambin further enriched his reputation with another perky showing, combining well with Schembri and Effiong whose equaliser was just reward for his perseverance.
Even the players who came on in the second half, especially Zach Muscat and Roderick Briffa, did their job well as Malta gained a timely fillip ahead of their clash with Scotland.
Hogg was preferred to Henry Bonello who had begun Malta’s previous two friendlies, against the Czech Republic and Austria. Steve Borg was also restored to the starting XI, taking up one of the central defence positions alongside Andrei Agius and Jonathan Caruana.
Clayton Failla and Joseph Zerafa were detailed to patrol the flanks while in midfield, the experienced Sciberras was partnered by Fenech with Gambin starting on the left wing. Schembri, wearing the captain’s armband as both Briffa and Michael Mifsud had to make do with a place on the bench, played off Effiong.
Estonia did the early running, Hogg saving a header from Karol Mets from a cross by Taijo Teniste.
As the first half moved past the 15th-minute mark, Malta began to share the exchanges.
A persistent run by Schembri had the Estonia defence on the ropes and from the corner Agius miscued his header from Failla’s cross.
The game remained largely devoid of scoring chances but the visitors then had a good chance to take the lead. Effiong did well to keep the ball before cutting it back to Gambin who raced into the box but his cross-shot found no takers.
Zerafa then made a perfectly-timed interception to belt the ball away from the advancing Ats Purje.
As the end of the first half approached, the frequency of attacks from both teams increased.
Agius did well to head the ball clear after Konstantin Vassiljev’s free-kick was deflected into the six-yard box.
There was another scare for Malta when Kams looked odds-on to score but his drive brought a fine save from Hogg.
The danger refused to go away as the half-clearance sailed towards Purje but his header was blocked by Agius.
Ghedin brought on Ryan Camilleri for Failla at the start of the second half and switched Zerafa to the left.
Estonia broke the deadlock 11 minutes into the second half. Surging into the box from the left, Zenjov wrong-footed his direct marker before dispatching an angled shot past Hogg.
The hosts threatened to double their lead but Hogg ran out of his lines to block Zenjov.
Reprieved, Malta went up at the other and levelled matters.
Schembri’s floated pass invited Effiong to race forward, putting pressure on Nikita Baranov who reacted to the escalating danger by lifting the ball into the air in an attempt to clear.
Barano’s skewed clearance soared into the goalmouth and, with goalkeeper Mihkel Aksalu off his line, Effiong dived in to nudge the ball home.
Energised by their equaliser, Malta began to pose more problems to Estonia with Schembri, Effiong, who replaced by Mifsud 17 minutes from time, and Gambin leading the charge.
And Malta were unlucky not to go ahead as Gambin picked out Schembri who swivelled before hitting a shot that smacked against the Estonia post.
Hogg then saved Zenjov’s cross-shot from the left but it was Malta who threatened again. Briffa released Mifsud but his strike was saved by Alasku.
Estonia: Z. Alasku, A. Pikk (77 D. Kruglov), A. Dmitrijev (69 I. Antonov), A. Purje (68 R. Sappinen), S. Zenjov, K. Vassiljev, K. Mets, K. Kallaste, G. Kams (62 M. Gussev), N. Baranov, T. Teniste.
Malta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, C. Failla (46 R. Camilleri), P. Fenech (83 R. Briffa), L. Gambin, A. Schembri (85 B. Kristensen), S. Borg (61 Z. Muscat), A. Effiong (73 M. Mifsud).
Referee: M. Tykgaard (Denmark FA).