Malta 1
Z. Muscat 79
Slovenia 4
Beric 31; Rep 45; Lazarevic 46; Jelenic 86;
Malta’s excellent start to their UEFA Euro U-21 qualifying camp had thrilled a whole nation but Ray Farrugia’s youngsters failed to repeat their bold showings in Finland and Lithuania in their first home outing yesterday.
For all their enthusiasm about playing their first home game after two positive away results, the Malta U-21s struggled to cope with the heightened expectations and Slovenia, who came into this match with a record of one win and one defeat, duly capitalised on their opponents’ jitters.
It has to be said that, at any level, Slovenia would be regarded as favourites to beat Malta but coach Farrugia, his players and the fans had dared to dream that another positive outcome was possible.
When Slovenia, then leading 1-0, were reduced to 10 men late in the first half, hopes of a Maltese comeback rose, especially as the home side had missed a few inviting chances to score, but they left themselves with much to do after conceding a second on the stroke of half-time.
Slovenia were worth their win as they were more organised tactically and more creative up front thanks to the intelligent movement of Kevin Kampl and Dejan Lazarevic who were a thorn in the side of the unsteady Malta defence.
Despite the disappointment at the 4-1 defeat, the Maltese players were still applauded off the pitch by the fans and this will hopefully lift their spirits ahead of Tuesday’s encounter with Finland.
Mark Scerri, making a return after completing his two-match ban, replaced Rowen Muscat who was only certified fit to start on the bench after falling sick in the days leading up to the match.
A hamstring strain had put Leighton Grech’s participation in the balance but the Birkirkara winger won his fitness battle to keep his place in the starting line-up.
Coach Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia stuck with 4-5-1-cum-4-3-3 with Terence Vella leading the forward line with Tristan Caruana and Grech providing support from the wings.
The early exchanges were devoid of creative football but it was Slovenia who created the first scoring chance. Robert Beric was given time and space to make a diagonal run just outside the box before releasing Enej Jelenic whose low strike was pushed out by Steve Sultana, the Malta goalkeeper.
As Farrugia’s boys struggled to get their passing game off the ground, Slovenia began to increase their pressure on the home rearguard.
The game was 16 minutes old when Malta came close to taking the lead. Grech’s through-ball caught the Slovenia defence off guard as Vella evaded the offside trap. The Birkirkara forward’s first touch was somewhat heavy but he still had ample space to advance only to shoot wide after cutting from the right.
Malta maintained their improvement. They should have broken the deadlock when Grech sped away on the right and centred for the unmarked Caruana in the six-yard box. The Hibs winger looked odds-on to score but his back-heeled flick was too weak to unsettle Jan Oblak, the Slovenia goalkeeper.
From the possibility of going a goal up, Malta found themselves a goal down a minute past the half-hour. Padova forward Lazarevic’s strong run through the middle took him past several Malta players and into the box. Zach Muscat partially averted the danger by deflecting the ball sideways but Beric was on hand to drive the ball home.
Slovenia’s opener jolted the home side who took a while to regain their composure but their hopes received a boost when defender Nejc Mevlja was dismissed after receiving a second booking for a shoulder charge on the advancing Grech.
Yet, any hopes that Malta would find it easy against 10 men quickly ebbed away when Slovenia doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. It came from a set-piece as Kevin Kampl’s square pass from a right-wing free-kick found Rajko Rep who fired the ball through a sea of players and into the net.
Farrugia made a double-substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Muscat and Steve Pisani for Clyde Borg and Caruana respectively.
The introduction of Muscat and Pisani brought about an instant improvement in Malta’s performance. Malta protested for a penalty when Pisani’s cross came off Nemanja Mitrovic but Kazakhstan referee Arytom Kuchin had a different view.
Malta missed a golden chance to reduce the deficit, Kristensen shooting straight to Oblak after being put through by Grech.
Once more, Slovenia capitalised on this miss as Lazarevic finished off another good run with a low shot that sailed past the startled Sultana.
Latching on to another intelligent pass from Grech, one of Malta’s best players yesterday, Zach Muscat, who ran the length of the pitch, kept his cool to rifle past Oblak.
Krampl, a constant menace for Malta, threatened to restore Slovenia’s three-goal lead but blasted over. Enej Jelenic saw to that as he surged into the Malta box before hitting past Sultana.
Malta: S. Sultana, Z. Muscat, O. Bugeja, Y. Camilleri, M. Gauci, C. Borg (46 R. Muscat), M. Scerri, B. Kristensen, L. Grech, T. Caruana (46 S. Pisani), T. Vella (64 M. Ciantar).
Slovenia: J. Oblak, B. Jovic, M. Resek (66 D. Trajkovski), K. Kampl, N. Mevlja, R. Rep, D. Lazarevic, A. Delamea-Mlinar, E. Jelenic, M. Mevlja (46 N. Mitrovic), R. Beric (85 L. Crncic).
Referee: A. Kuchin (Kazakhstan).
Yellow cards: Camilleri; N. Mevlja; Kampl; Ciantar; Gauci; Jelenic.
Red card: N. Mevlja (S) 44.
Attendance: 632.