Malta loses 3-1 to the Czech Republic
Antoine Busuttil | Friday, October 12th, 2012 | 17 Comments »
Malta lost 3-1 to the Czech Republic in another match from Group 3 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Stadion města Plzně – Doosan Arena in Plzen.
The Maltese played an excellent first half, going 1-1 into half-time. However the Czech Republic showed greater determination after the break, scoring twice to secure the three points.
Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar
Pietro Ghedin had faith in the same players which played against Italy, replacing the injured Daniel Bogdanovic with Shaun Bajada. Hogg started in goal with Andrei Agius and Luke Dimech as central defenders, Alex Muscat and Steve Borg on the flanks, Shaun Bajada, Roderick Briffa, Gareth Sciberras, Andre Schembri and Edward Herrera in midfield with Michael Mifsud in attack.
Young Hibernians midfielder Ayrton Azzopardi was awarded his debut as he was included as a substitute two minutes from time.
The hosts held the initiative right from the start but the Maltese controlled their opponents well, hardly allowing them to shoot at goal during the first half.
Thomas Pekhart almost put the Czech Republic ahead as he blocked a clearance by Andrew Hogg following a back pass by Luke Dimech. Malta replied with a good move by Edward Herrera on the left as he rounded Gebre Selassie and tried his luck with a diagonal shot ending wide.
Andrew Hogg was prominent on 33 minutes as he blocked two close-range efforts by Jaroslav Plašil and Petr Jiráček.
However a minute later, the Czech Republic managed to to break the deadlock when off a David Limberský cross from the left, Theodor Gebre Selassie headed the ball home.
However four minutes later, Malta restored equilibrium thanks to a great goal by Roderick Briffa who gained possession just outside the penalty area, rounded two defenders and beat Petr Čech with a brilliant rising shot.
The Czech Republic regained the lead seven minutes in the second half when following a good move on the left flank between Hübschman and Rajtoral who served Jiráček and off the latter’s cross, Tomáš Pekhart headed home from close range.
Michael Mifsud tried to surprise Cech with a lob from midfield on 55 minutes.
The hosts scored the third goal on 67 minutes when Jiráček released Plašil on the left and the latter’s cross was well-connected by the unmarked Jan Rezek who hit low past Hogg.
A header by Pekhart was saved partially by Hogg following a corner from the right on 73 minutes with the ball cleared into safety by a defender.
Three minutes in added time, Malta could have reduced he gap after being awarded a penalty as Milan Petržela brought Steve Borg down inside the area. However Michael Mifsud’s effort was neutralised by Cech.
Photos: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar
CZECH REPUBLIC Petr Čech, Theodore Gebre Selassie, Michal Kadlec, Tomáš Sivok, David Limberský, Jan Rezek, František Rajtoral (61′ Milan Petržela), Jaroslav Plašil, Tomáš Hübschman, Petr Jiráček (72′ Vladimír Darida), Tomáš Pekhart (82′ David Lafata).
Coach: Michal Bílek (CZK)
MALTA Andrew Hogg, Alex Muscat, Gareth Sciberras, Andrei Agius, Luke Dimech, Edward Herrera, Roderick Briffa, Michael Mifsud, Andre’ Schembri (87′ Paul Fenech), Steve Borg, Shawn Bajada (89′ Ayrton Azzopardi).
Coach: Pietro Ghedin
Referee: Salmanov Anar (AZE)
Assistant Referee: Hashimov Mubariz, Abbasov Yashar (AZE)
Fourth Official: Aliyev Vusal (AZE)
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Wirja tajba mill-players taghna (specjalment fl-ewwel half). Hassra li Mifsud ta dak il-pen verament hazin ghax stajn ngibu r-riz aktar rispettabbli. Fuq il-gls ma stajna naghmlu xejn imma l-ahhar wiehed kien tipiku ghat tim Malti. Xbajt nara n-Nazz u anka clubs Maltin jaqalghu goals simili. Id-difiza tinzel f’ linja mal-winger u dan ta’l-ahhar just jikkrossja lura fil baxx fej dejjem jku hemm xi hadd jistenna kemm jitfa’gewwa. B’aktar attenzjoni kapaci natu kedda kbira lil kullhadd.
Filwaqt li defensivament labna loba tajba, qed nara li qed nergaw naqa lura fis-sistema li niddefendu biss tul il-loba shiha…fi tlett lobiet kulmeta qlajna goal qas amilna reazzjoni denja. Jien hsibt li wara li telaq John Buttigieg hsiebt li se tinbena mentalita iktar pozittiva specjalment wara l-ewwel tlett lobiet (tal-italja halliha), izda kont zbaljat. Din hija wahda mir-ragunijiet alfejn l-appogg at-tim nazzjonali dejjem qed jonqos. Ix-xoghol li qed jaghmel iz-zazu maz-zghar qed jintilef mal-kbar sfortunatament, nippreferi nitlef 5-1 u nipprova nattakka milli nitlef biss 2-0 u ma nippruvawx ngibu rizultat. Zmien Fitzel kien sabih, pero nahseb qatt mhu gej lura jekk l-coaches nazzjonali li ghandna mohhom biex jaqalaw l-inqas goals possibli minaghajr ebda rieda biex niksbu rizultat.
Pero xorta najd prosit lil players ghal effort li taw u ghal gmiel ta goal ta roderick briffa
3-1 today is better then 6-1 or 8-0 15 to 20 years ago its a shame they lost the game after a half time 1-1 a peice, but its no red face performance
prosit goal ta klassi u adda sabih prosit briffa baqa cas chec; fuq it team….briffa u bajjada huma lunici players li provaw jaddu u ma jibzawx anke andre jidher konfidenti hafna wara u deher fcertu mossi…………oppinjoni tighie, schembri ma deherx il bierah, jien nahseb li caruana andu postu wara zgur,u michael xi kultant jaddi min gol players jkun jrid ma nafx,…kapaci nilabu il ballun imma nibizaw m u fuq il penalty ma skurjahx mux xorta telfa kellna ha nibqaw nifirhu ax kiku riuzultat aktar pjacevoli
Wirja tajba ohra.Meta kulhadd jaghti il-mija fil mija kapaci naghtu kedda lil kull team.Nisperaw ukoll li jaslu l-punti.
li kont ha najd qalu kollu gann! mela ha nzid xi haga ohra jekk stajtu tinnotaw ghal kowc malti qatt ma kienet l-intenzjoni li niskurjaw izda li nitilfu 1jew 2-0 biss. ax meta hrigna f-lewwel half kien minhabba nuqqasijiet taghhom fnofs il grawnd izda meta il partitarji ceki bdew issaffrulom (xi haga li ahna qadd ma namlu ax happy bkollox) dawn startjaw il magni u ma hallewniex naghtu pass sura!niextieq biss inkun naf jekk is salarju ta ghedin hux iktar min ta butigieg?
Ghalijja il penalty area iz zghira hija tal goalkeeper . Zewg goals min crosses vicin il lasta u il goalkeeper baqa mwahhal fuq il linja Fl opinjoni tieghi kellu johrog jintercettom . Il bqija prosit ghal loghba specjalment fl ewwel half
jien ma nafx kif naghzlu plejers li mal club ma jilabux u dahlu l bierah. Dan qas ma under 21s ma kien! Inkredibli aw malta umbad plejers bhal manolito u plejers ta 21s ma azilomx jibqaw d dar
its about time Malta find another penalty taker he has missed far too many pen kicks..i would have given Rodrick or Luke who were having a great game
JIENA MA NAFX CERTU NIES KIF JITKELLMU. ijad jajd ax idefendejna trid tara jekk itukux cans tataka lewwel ma ninsews ma min labna ta u xi kwalita ta players andhom dawn. u naqel hafna ma gi li qall.
Loghba tajba ghat tim li kull ma lghab taht il- gwida ta ghedin kienu biss hames loghbit. Sissa hadna zewg rebhiet u tlett telfiet.ma jfiisirx li huwa tajjeb ghaliex fil- loghb ta ‘ kwaliffikazzjoni ghat – tazza tad – dinja ma hadna l’ ebda punt sissa pero qed naraw improment totali u f’ din l- ahhar loghba rajna aaktar loghb fl-attakk ovvjament id – diffiza kiente tajba pero il- marking fil=- krosses ghadna qed inbattu minnhom u allura irridu nahdmu aktar fuqha mill – bqija GOAl sabih u loghob sabih fl-attakk ….. Proset tal- hidma
prosit lit team malti tal wirja tajba pero nithasseb meta jithalew barra certu players u jigi majat player li qatt laghab fil premier jew jek lab lab ftit??
Good game from the Maltese side although we were loosing the possession to often but Briffa manage to do a world class goal. Andrew Hogg was not in his best a I saw him to much shaky dropping the ball to easy and in my opinion in two goals he should done better.
good effort boys if anyone criticise you they dont understand football to be getting these results against these countries its a fantastic effort especially on foreign soil.
FORZA MALTA
l-Ewwelnett nixtiequ nghidu proset lit tim nazzjonali malti. Imma jibqa l-fatt li certu players qed jidhallew barra u min inqas biss jilghab fil-premiere jigi maghzul biex jilghab man-Nazzjonal
To Gann,
I totally agree with your opinion
The best coach Malta had was , with all due respect , Mr Dusan Fitzel , both in the Professional way he made to selection regarding the choice of players utilized and more so, from the Positive Psychological point of view and self belief, he instilled in our National Team players and public in general .
Regarding the other point , I tend to agree also , the recent coaching attitude seems to favour the result rather than switch to playing with a more offensive role , regardless of the result .
On a positive side , well done, Roderick Briffa, fantastic goal .
Fitzel was reported to have said that, he was happy, to see that most of the players under his guidance, were still in the team and you are one of the few of them . so Keep it up .
jien nrid nkompli najd li vera kif qet jien u ceri nies li ghedin ihares li ma jaqlax goals hafna……..fuq azzopardi ax nafu sew tifel li andu ballun sew biex najd li hu ta livel ta cohen bhala dribbling. imma adu naqa zghir al din il qabza,.jien qalli wiehed li kienu qet jilabu friendly il kbar ma 19s ta malta xi hmistax ilu ta qali u 21s ax (azzopardi tela ma 21s) kienu training, ghedin talab liz zazu al zewg xellugin u azzopardi ax u xellugi mar mal kbar u player iehor jurgen pisani, u fil loghba kien tajjeb u lil 19s hawwadhom ax hu vera tajjeb ogbu hafna lil ghedin u vera impressjonah u alek azlu……imma mux azlu bladdoc,,,,,,,,,andu talent forsi aggel naqa nahseb ghedin imma vera andu talent azzopardi, nahseb mal hibs ma jilabx ax hemm barranin dik il pozzizjoni al mal hibs kapaci jilab zgur