Two goals late in each half shattered Malta’s hopes of gaining the first points of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign as the national team slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Latvia at the National Stadium this evening.
Malta produced a much better performance than they did in their 3-1 defeat to Israel last Thursday but their efforts failed to reap the desired dividends as Latvia, who lost 3-0 to Croatia in their opening qualifier, struck in the dying minutes of each half to record a 2-0 victory.
The MFA’s bold move to allow free entry to the South Stand had the desired effect as thousands of supporters, most of them carrying Maltese flags, made their way to the stadium for the national team’s second Euro 2012 qualifier and the first at home.
Malta coach John Buttigieg made two alterations from the team he picked for the Israel qualifier. Right-back Manny Muscat and Andrew Cohen were handed a starting role with Edward Herrera and Daniel Bogdanovic making way for the recalled duo.
Latvia forced the tempo in the initial stages with midfielder Juris Laizans bossing the midfield. After 13 minutes, Laizans almost put Latvia ahead but his curling free-kick from an angled position crashed against the crossbar.
The hosts improved as the first half gathered pace. Latching on to an excellent pass from Jonathan Caruana, Muscat delivered a teasing cross into the box. Latvia’s half-clearance sailed towards Jamie Pace but the Valletta midfielder drove his volley wide and high.
Midway into the first half, Malta came close to taking the lead. Cohen’s quickly-taken free-kick unsettled the Latvian defence as the Malta forward’s long ball invited the speedy Mifsud to run forward. The Malta captain made headway in the box but his central shot was palmed away by Andris Vanins, the Latvia goalkeeper.
Malta’s growing optimism suffered a blow when, with just over two minutes left for half-time, Latvia moved ahead. Aleksandars Cauna was the provider with an inswinging cross from a free-kick that was met by captain Kaspars Gorkss whose header had the better of Andrew Hogg, the Malta goalkeeper.
In the dying stages of the first half, Hogg parried away a strong drive by Maris Verpakovskis. Early in the second half, Malta had a great chance to draw level. The dynamic Manny Muscat sped into the box to receive Garther Sciberras’s pass but his curling shot was off target.
Bogdanovic, a surprise omission from Malta’s starting team, came on for Muscat 13 minutes into the second half.
With 21 minutes remaining, Malta were unfortunate not to gain an equaliser. After Latvia had partially cleared Bajada’s corner, Cohen jinked his way into the box and guided his pass into the six-yard box. Bogdanovic turned swiftly and produced an audacious back-heel that surprises the Latvia defence and goalkeeper but the ball flashed against the foot of the far post.
The home team continued to drive forward, Bajada bringing a good save from Vanins with a diagonal shot. Bogdanovic went close again with a diagonal shot but Malta’s hopes of salvaging a point vanished when Latvia increased their advantage five minutes from time.
Verpakovskis breezed past Andrei Agius and fired a ferocious drive past Hogg.
Two minutes from time, Mifsud wasted a good chance to narrow the deficit for Malta when he sent his volley high with only Vanins to beat.
Malta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana, C. Mamo (’77 R. Fenech), G. Sciberras (’77 C. Failla), A. Agius, S. Bajada, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen, M. Muscat (’58 D. Bogdanovic), J. Pace.
Latvia: A.Vanins, O. Klava, K. Gorkss, M. Rafalskis (’82 V. Astafjevs), J. Laizans, D. Ivanovs, P. Mihadjuks, A. Cauna, M. Verpakovskis (’90 A. Pereplotkins), A. Rubins, A. Rudnevs (’70 G. Karlsons).
Attendance was close to 6,000.