A well deserved point for Malta

Malta…………………….0                         Albania ………………….0

    With a positive performance especially in the second half, Malta gained its first point in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the National Stadium when on cold evening of Wednesday 13 th February 2009 played out a 0-0 draw against Albania at the National Stadium, Ta' Qali. All this comes after four successive defeats, one of them 3-0 against the Albanians last year in Tirana.

   Malta gave a spirited performance during the second d period, with a high work rate in midfield and a lot of running, creating enough to at least score that elusive first goal in the competition, which could have even earned us a win. Our players on two different occasions came face to face with Albanian goalkeeper Hidi but while Terence Scerri shot the ball over, Michael Mifsud was thwarted by the Albanian custodian. That heralded the best spell for Malta in the opening stages of the second

   Our national coach Dusan Fitzel played in a 4-1-4-1 system with Andrei Agius and Luke Dimech as central defenders, while on the flanks he preferred Alex Muscat and Gozitan Shaun Bajada. Skipper Gilbert Agius sat in front of the defense with Kevin Sammut and Andre Schembri playing wide. This allowed Michael Mifsud and Andrew Cohen to play up behind Terence Scerri.

  The cold weather and rain during warming up period, left most of the seats empty, but for all this once again the South End Core did all their best to support our team.

  After just two minutes from a pass by Duro, Bulku tested Justin Haber with a powerful shot. Some minutes later the same Maltese goalkeeper saved a header by Curri. Then after ten minutes Bogdani hit just wide after a cross by Bulku. Malta replied five minutes later  as Cohen ran from the left and crossed for Scerri who was deflected into a corner. However Arie Haan’s players were again dangerous after 27 minutes with a cross shot by Agolli from the left. Few minutes later unmarked Bogdani was served in the area by a Lika cross, but the Chievo Verona attacker close range shot was saved by the Maltese custodian Haber. Then the Albanians force some corners which were cleared by the Maltese defense. Before the half time, Haber came again to anticipate Skela and later a free kick by Duro was blocked and off the rebound Skela hit high.

  After the break, our players came out with more determination and concentration and put pressure on our opponents. After two minutes Mifsud served by Cohen had a shot that ended just wide. Twelve minutes later Malta went very close to open the score when from a though pass by Schembri, Scerri entered the area but he lifted the ball over the bar. Our boys grew in confidence on the hour it was Albanian goalkeeper who had to rush out off his line to clear danger as Mifsud had a good run. As 21 minutes were passes, Shaun Bajada had a low free kick saved by Hidi. Twelve minutes later it was Sammut that served substitute Briffa
but his shot was blocked. Five minutes from time, Schembri passed the ball to Mifsud whose powerful shot from outside the area was saved the goalkeeper. In added time, Haber saved a cross by Duro and on the other side Hidi had to rush out to stop Schembri. The final whistle of Mr. Deaconu found the Maltese side preserving a clean sheet for a well deserved point.

Malta : J.Haber, A.Muscat (C.Failla), A.Agius, L.Dimech, G.Agius (R.Fenech), M.Mifsud, K.Sammut, A.Cohen, A.Schembri, T.Scerri (R.Briffa), S.Bajada.

Albania : I.Hidi, A.Dallku, E.Beqiri, D.Curri, A.Agolli (K.Vangjeli) (A.Lila), E.Vrapi, E.Bulku, G.Lika, E.Skela, K.Duro, E.Bogdani (B.Berisha).

Referee  : Alexandru Deaconu ( Romania )