Malta wins in Liechtenstein

A goal by Jonathan Caruana late in the first half enabled Malta to beat Liechtenstein 1-0 at the Rhein Park Stadion in Vaduz on Wednesday.

This was the fifth consecutive win for Malta in a friendly match after defeating the Central African Republic 2-1 in August 2011 and Liechtenstein 2-1 in February at Ta’ Qali and Luxembourg 2-0 in June and San Marino 3-2 in August in two matches away from home.

With Luke Dimech wearing the captain’s arm-band in the absence of Michael Mifsud, Ghedin handed the debut to Hamrun Spartans striker Terence Vella, including him in the starting line-up. Another former Under-21 international Rowen Muscat also made his debut when he was included as a substitute late in the game. Justin Haber was named in the starting line-up along with the returning Clayton Falla and Andrew Cohen.

In an extremely cold evening in Vaduz, the two teams had their fair share of scoring opportunities but it was the team led by Pietro Ghedin who scored the all-important goal on 39 minutes when following corner, there were a series of shots until Jonathan Caruana managed to place the ball at the back of the net.

The hosts were unlucky to hit the posts on 24 minutes with a Nicolas Hasler effort and then with a Franz Burgmeier header hitting the crossbar three minutes in the second half.

Photos: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar / MFA

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LIECHTENSTEIN Peter Jehle, Daniel Kaufmann (66′ Lucas Eberle), Yves Oehri, Ivan Quintans (83′ Mathias Christen), Martin Stocklasa, Franz Burgmeier, Nicolas Hasler (90′ Andreas Christen), Michele Polverino, Sandro Wieser, Thomas Beck (66′ Philippe Erne), David Hasler.
MALTA Justin Haber, Jonathan Caruana, Gareth Sciberras (84′ Rowen Muscat), Andrei Agius, Luke Dimech, Clayton Failla (90′ Alex Muscat), Roderick Briffa (69′ Shaun Bajada), Terence Vella, Andrew Cohen (46′ Paul Fenech), Edward Herrera, Andre Schembri.
Referee: Nikolaj Hanni (SWI)
Assistant Referees: Beat Hidber, Devis Dettamanti (SWI)