FIFA Group 1 Qualifying     

MALTA’S BEST PERFORMANCE NOT ENOUGH TO WIN FIRST POINT

J. Haber, J. Caruana (R. Briffa 34’), A. Xuereb, L. Dimech, S. Bajada, E. Barbara (U. Nkwoko 77’), J. Pace, A. Schembri, I. Woods, M. Mifsud, T. Scerri (G. Agius 55’).

HUNGARY ....1  (S. Toghelle 23’)

M. Fulop, S. Huszti, L. Bodnar, V. Vanczak, R. Juhasz, B. Bodor, P. Halmosi, B. Dzsudzsak (A. Buzsaky 70’), P. Dardai (B. Toth 83’), S. Torghelle, Z. Gera.

    Malta suffered the fourth defeat from as many matches in the qualifying round for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in the home match against Hungary.  The Maltese players and technical staff managed to regain composure and resist to recent criticism following a serious of negative results and performances.  They produced a worthy challenge to the Hungarians and suffered the defeat following the developments of a corner action. 

   Although the visitors held some territorial supremacy, Malta’s brave and disciplined rearguard was not put under much pressure.  The defensive department was in good shape.  Central defender Luke Dimech was in control of the area while the two flanks were controlled well.  Gozitan Shaun Bajada had a positive performance on the left flank, while the other side of the pitch was initially blocked by Jonathan Caruana and later by his substitute Rodrick Briffa.  The Maltese probably lacked some strength in attack as the Hungarian goalkeeper was rarely tested seriously.  Malta’s most influential player Michael Mifsud was generally away from the area to provide space for Terrence Scerri, while Etienne Baraba and Andre Schembri tried hard to produce some danger among Hungary’s rearguard. 

   Malta controlled Hungary’s initial initiative and denied the visitors from approaching Haber’s goal.  The Maltese almost took full advantage in their first approach to Hungary’s area.  Mifsud won a loose ball when Hungary’s rearguard cleared badly but Malta’s hero lost the moment to conclude in goal.  Three minutes later a free kick by Shaun Bajada ended high and five minutes later Hungary’s goalie Fulop punched away with difficulty when pressed by Mifsud following a cross from the right by Etienne Barabara.  In the 22^nd minute Hungary produced a fast break through Dardai that was blocked in corner by Luke Dimech.  From the resultant corner kick by Huszti, who probably had the greatest work-rate of the twenty two players on the field, the defense cleared short.  Dardai took the lose ball from an unmarked position and from his pass Sandor Toghelle was well placed to head in goal from close distance.

   The visitors grew in confidence and they threatened Malta’s rearguard on two other occasions before the break.  In the 31^st minute it was Dzsudzsak who entered the area following a fast break but lost the moment to conclude in goal, while Malta’s goalkeeper Justin Haber made a good intervention three minutes later following a good free kick by Dardai.

   Hungary maintained their momentum after the resumption and Malta started to find it more difficult to operate some breaks in Hungary’s half.  However, the Maltese kept their composure at their defence and Hungary’s play did not produce much danger.  Hungary’s first attempt at goal of the second period arrived in the 65^th minute through an attempt by Huszti that ended wide.  The same player tested Malta’s goalkeeper nine minutes later directly from a free kick but the extreme defender neutralised in style.  Malta’s substitutions during the second period were effective in the final stages and the approaches to Hungary’s area became more frequent.  In the 81^st minute Jamie Pace won a tussle at the edge of the area but from the resultant melee Gilbert Agius ended in an offside position.  Hungary replied two minutes later with a fast counter attack but Huzsti’s shot ended over the crossbar.  The Maltese increased their efforts in the final stages in an attempt to save the result but Hungary’s rearguard controlled their one goal lead until the final whistle.