MALTA-0, BULGARIA-1

A second-half goal from Ivelin Popov shattered Malta's hopes of gaining a positive result from their qualifier against Bulgaria but the home players left the pitch with their heads held high after producing another lively showing.

Coming into the match on a high after their 2-0 friendly win over Lithuania, Malta proved more than a match to the Bulgarians in the first half, going close to scoring through Alfred Effiong and Roderick Briffa.

Bulgaria, needing a win to revive their play-off hopes, began to enjoy more possession but Malta were coping well, also riding their luck when, on the stroke of half-time, Ilian Micanski missed a penalty.

The second half brought more of the same but Popov's 55th-minute goal, following a half-clearance from the Maltese defence, handed the points to the Bulgarians.

The game was less than 90 seconds old when Malta won a free-kick in a dangerous position following a foul on Alfred Effiong, whio was preferred to Andrew Cohen.
Clayton Failla's set-piece cross from the right, was blocked by Bozhidar Mitrev, the Bulgaria goalkeeper.

Malta maintained their brisk start. Effiong stole the attention with another dazzling run on three minutes, the Qormi striker speeding past Svetoslav Dyakov and Aleksandar Aleksandrov as he raced into the box but he drove high.

Bulgaria rallied, Stanoslav Manolev firing wide from outside the box.

Malta were holding their own in the initial stages.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber did well to beat away a dangerous Ivelin Popov free-kick on 18 minutes.

A cross by Vladimir Gadzhev, from a right-wing free-kick, flew across the Malta penalty area, eluding several players in the process.

As the minutes ticked away, Bulgaria began to enjoy more possession but the red-shirted players refused to lie down.

An excellent Malta move had Bulgaria on the ropes a minute past the half-hour. Rowen Muscat's accurate pass from a central position was flicked on by Alex Muscat in the direction of the surging Roderick Briffa. The Valletta talisman veered into the box, lofting the ball over his marker before hitting a shot that was pushed away by Mitrev.

There was a scare for Malta five minutes from half-time when Micanski, profiting from a fortuitous deflection off the shielding Agius, charged into the box but his effort drew a fine save from Haber.

A minute from half-time, Gadzhev's reverse pass released Yordan Minev but his angled effort was off target.

Moments later, Malta looked to have suffered a setback when they conceded a penalty after defender Ryan Camilleri was adjudged to have pushed Gadzhev in the box.

Camilleri was booked but Malta's despair soon gave way to jov as Micanski sent his effort wide of the post with Haber diving the right way.

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Early in the second half, Mihail Alexandrov sprinted clear on the right before sending in a low cross that rolled past Popov.

Popov then fired Bulgaria ahead. His initial cross, from a right-wing free-kick, was partially clearaed by the Malta defenders but when the ball was headed back into the box, Popov was in the right spot to rifle past Haber to send the numerous Bulgaria fans into raptures.

Haber prevented Bulgaria from doubling the lead with a top save to keep out Micanski's stooping header.

Ghedin made his first change, bringing on Edward Herrera for Alex Muscat.

With 20 minutes remaining, Briffa dragged in a teasing cross from a free-kick but the ball just bypassed the leaping Zach Muscat at the far post.
Five minutes later, Ghedin made another attacking change, throwing on Andrè Schembri for Briffa.

A promising Maltese attack came to nothing when Effiong, running on to a long ball, cut inside from the left but his pass towards Herrera took a deflection and Mitrev rushed out to subdue the danger.

Ghedin made his last change, introducing Cohen for Mifsud. The Hibs captain soon began to make his presence felt with his intelligent movement.

Two minutes from the end, Failla veered infield from the left but his swinging effort was off target. Failla then had a free-kick saved by Mitrev.

In stoppage time, Manolev went close to adding to Bulgaria's lead but his curling drive cannoned off the crossbar.