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Malta National Team
National Team Match Reports
30/05/2008, UPC Arena - Graz
Friendly Match
Austria vs Malta 5-1
| AUSTRIA | Alex Manninger, Gyorgy Garics, Martin Stranzl (84' Sebastian Prodl), Emanuel Pogatetz (84' Martin Hiden), Ronald Geracliu (77' Markus Katzer), Umit Korkmaz (46' Martin Harnik), Rene Aufhauser (77' Jurgen Saumer), Christoph Leitgeb, Andreas Ivanschitz, Erwin Hoffer (58' Ivica Vastic), Roland Linz. |
| MALTA | Andrew Hogg (46' Justin Haber), Jonathan Caruana (46' Cleavon Frendo), Brian Said, Luke Dimech, Gilbert Agius, Roderick Briffa, Michael Mifsud (64' Etienne Babara), Andre Schembri (72' Ian Azzopardi), Shawn Bajada, Jamie Pace (86' George Mallia), Udo Nwoko (46' Ryan Fenech). |
| Referee | Robert Krajnc (SLO) |
| Assistant Referees | Milan Kogej, Robert Zirnstein |
| Fourth Official | Michael Robitsch (AUT) |
| Yellow Cards | Mifsud, Frendo, Pace, Agius, Said |
| Scorers | 8' [1-0] Rene Aufhauser (A) 11' [2-0] Roland Linz (A) 41' [2-1] Michael Mifsud (M) 67' [3-1] Roland Linz (pen) (A) 77' [4-1] Ivica Vasic (A) 90+3' [5-1] Martin Harnik (A) |
| Two goals in the first eleven minutes paved the way for a 5-1 win for Austria over Malta in a friendly match at the UPC Arena in Graz on Friday.
Being the last game before the final tournament of the EURO 2008 gets underway with Austria playing their first game against Croatia on Sunday 8, they were determined to bring to an end their warm-up for this campaign with a positive result after disappointing in recent outings. The Maltese, on the other hand, were hoping to register a positive result in the 300th international game for the national team. However much more was expected from Malta considering the performances in recent outings. Malta will now play another friendly match away from home against Estonia on August 20. The first World Cup qualifier is against Portugal on September 6. The Austrians made their intentions clear right from the start going close with a good shot by Christoph Leitgeb on the 4th minute, off a cross by Ronald Geracliu from the left. However Luke Dimech cleared the ball into safety. Two minutes later, a freekick by Andreas Ivanschitz ended just wide. Austria took the lead on the 7th minute when off a Andreas Ivanschitz corner from the right, Rene Aufhauser headed home. Malta replied with a Michael Mifsud powerful drive, when served by Udo Nwoko which ended wide on 9 minutes. On 11 minutes, the hosts doubled the score when off a cross by Erwin Hoffer from the right, Roland Linz tapped te ball home from close range. Off another cross by Geracliu from the left, Linz hit high with a first-time effort on 25 minutes and on the other side of the pitch, Andre Schembri sent Michael Mifsud through but the latter was anticipated by goalkeeper Alex Manninger a minute later. On 28 minutes, a freekick by Gilbert Agius was neutralised by the Austrian goalkeeper. Andrew Hogg came to the rescue on 38 minutes turning into a corner a Ronald Geracliu effort who took a loose ball on the left and unleashed a powerful rising shot. Malta pulled one back on 41 minutes when off a clearance by Jonathan Caruana, Brian Said released Michel Mifsud with a fine header and the Coventry striker rounded Manninger to place the ball into the empty net. Three minutes in the second half, Malta went close with Michael Mifsud whose diagonal shot from the right ended just wide. Substitute and local favourite Ivica Vastic tested Justin Haber with a fine header hardly a minute after replacing Hoffer on 58 minutes. The Haidari goalkeeper performed a good save on Harnik a few minutes later. Austria restored a two-goal lead on 67 minutes when Martin Harnik was brought down inside the area by Said. Referee Robert Krajnc ordered a penalty and Roland Linz made no mistake from the penalty spot. Ten minutes later, Josef Hickersberger's side increased the lead with another goal with Ivica Vastic beating Haber from close range to make it 4-1. The Maltese replied with a shot by Gilbert Agius from outside the area which was partially saved by Manninger but three minutes in added time, Martin Harnik scored a fifth goal with a diagonal shot from the right which beat Justin Haber. | |
26/03/2008, National Stadium - Ta' Qali
Friendly Match
Malta vs Liechtenstein 7-1
| MALTA | Andrew Hogg, Shaun Bajada, Etienne Barbara (46' Andrew Cohen), Luke Dimech, Gilbert Agius (46' Ryan Fenech), Roderick Briffa (66' Kenneth Scicluna), Michael Mifsud, Kevin Sammut (46' Ivan Woods), Josef Mifsud (72' Brian Said), Jamie Pace, Udo Nwoko (79' George Mallia). |
| LIECHTENSTEIN | Peter Jehle, Martin Stocklasa, Ronny Büchel, Mario Frick, Franz Burgmeier, Martin Wille, Fabio D'Elia, Raphael Rohrer (28' Andreas Gerster), Franz-Josef Vogt (64' Martin Rechsteiner), David Hasler (71' Christoph Biedermann), Michele Polverino. |
| Referee | William Collum (SCO) |
| Assistant Referees | Philip Agius, Alan Camilleri |
| Fourth Official | Chris Lautier |
| Yellow Cards | Burgmeier |
| Scorers | 2' [1-0] Michael Mifsud (pen) 17' [2-0] Michael Mifsud 21' [3-0] Michael Mifsud (pen) 35' [4-0] Jamie Pace 51' [4-1] Franz Burgmeier 59' [5-1] Michael Mifsud 69' [6-1] Michael Mifsud 86' [7-1] Brian Said |
| Michael Mifsud notched a hat-trick in the first twenty-one minutes and added another two goals in the second half as Malta registered an incredible 7-1 win over Liechtenstein in a friendly match at Ta' Qali on Wednesday.
This was the biggest win ever for the national team, the previous record being a 5-0 win over Azerbaijan in April 1994. It was also a record for Michael Mifsud as this was the first time a local player scored more than three goals in a game. He has now scored a total of 19 goals in international matches. As expected, there were a number of changes in the team due to absence of some players for various reasons. Andrew Hogg guarded the posts in the absence of Justin Haber with the rear-guard being made up of Josef Mifsud, Roderick Briffa, Luke Dimech and Shaun Bajada. Kevin Sammut, Gilbert Agius, Jamie Pace and Udo Nwoko were employed in midfield with Etienne Barbara and Michael Mifsud as the two strikers. Malta took the lead after just two minutes when Etienne Barbara was floored inside the area by Martin Wille. Referee William Collum ordered a penalty and from the penalty spot, Michael Mifsud made no mistake. The visitors replied with an intelligent pass by Siena's Mario Frick for David Hasler but the latter hit wide from in front of goalkeeper Andrew Hogg. Goalkeeper Peter Jehle then performed saves on shots from the right by Udo Nwoko first and Michael Mifsud a couple of minutes later. Jamie Pace then had a fine shot from the edge of the area partially saved on the 14th minute. Malta doubled the score on the 17th minute when off a cross by Etienne Barbara from the right, Michael Mifsud controlled before beating the helpless Jehle. On the 21th minute, Malta made it 3-0. Etienne Barbara was brought down by Fabio D'Elia as he entered the area. The referee gave marching orders to the Liechtenstein defender and ordered another penalty. From the penalty spot, Michael Mifsud converted to complete a hat-trick. The locals kept pushing for more with Barbara testing Jehle with a powerful shot from the left and then the goalkeeper managed to block a good attempt by Sammut. Jamie Pace scored the fourth goal for Malta on 35 minutes as he headed the ball home in style off a freekick by Kevin Sammut from the left. Five minutes in the second half, Liechtenstein had an excellent opportunity to reduce the gap after Josef Mifsud fouled Michele Polverino inside the area. However Mario Frick's effort was neutralised by Andrew Hogg with the ball being cleared into a corner. However from the resulting corner by Polverino, Franz Burgmeier headed home. But on 59 minutes, Malta restored a four-goal lead with substitute Ivan Woods serving Michael Mifsud on the left and the Coventry striker beat Jehle from close range. Ten minutes later, the locals made it 6-1 when off a cross from the left by Andrew Cohen, Udo Nwoko served Michael Mifsud whose rising shot gave the Liechtenstein goalkeeper no chance. But the game was not over yet as the boys in red scored the seventh goal four minutes from time when off a corner from the right by George Mallia, Brian Said headed home. | |
06/02/2008, National Stadium - Ta' Qali
Malta International Tournament
Malta vs Belarus 0-1
| MALTA | Justin Haber, Ian Azzopardi, Brian Said (66' Aaron Xuereb), Luke Dimech, Gilbert Agius (65' Jamie Pace), Roderick Briffa (85' Kenneth Scicluna), Michael Mifsud, Ivan Woods (46' Cleavon Frendo), George Mallia (46' Shaun Bajada), Gareth Sciberras, Udo Nwoko (81' Kevin Sammut).
Subs not used: Andrew Hogg Coach: Dusan Fitzel |
| BELARUS | Yuri Zhevnov, Aleksandr Kulchiy, Yegor Filipenko, Sergei Omelyanchuk, Artyom Radkov (66' Kiryl Pavlyuchek), Timofei Kalachev, Vitali Bulyga (60' Vyacheslav Hleb), Aleksandr Hleb, Aleksei Skverniuk, Vitali Kutuzov, Nikolai Kashevski (60' Maksim Romashchenko).
Subs not used: Anton Amelchenko, Anton Putsila, Aliaksandr Paulau, Roman Kirenkin. Coach: Bernd Stange |
| Referee | Ararat Tshagharyan (Armenia) |
| Assistant Referees | Ingmar Spiteri and Mariano Debono |
| Fourth Official | Magnus Porisson (Iceland) |
| Yellow Cards | none |
| Scorers | 89' Maksim Romashchenko |
| A goal one minute from time handed Belarus a 1-0 win over Malta to claim the 14th edition of the Malta International Football Tournament.
Following Armenia's 0-2 defeat to Iceland, both Malta and Belarus stood a chance to claim the trophy. In fact, with a win for either side, that team would have won the tournament. Belarus had already won the tournament in 2004. National coach Dusan Fitzel once again performed several changes in the starting line-up, including foreign-based Justin Haber, Udo Nwoko and Michael Mifsud. Fitzel, in fact had the opportunity to field his best formation with the exception of midfielder Andre Schembri, who is on a training camp with Eintracht Braunschweig, and Hibernians striker Terence Scerri, who is injured. During the first half, the two teams shared the exchanges and although the team from the former Soviet republic were technically slightly better than the local side, Malta created the better chances. Udo Nwoko went close with a diagonal shot from the right on the 25th minute. Eleven minutes later, Michael Mifsud entered the penalty area from the right. His first shot was blocked by Radkov and off the rebound the Coventry striker hit wide. On the other side of the pitch, Timofei Kalachev's shot from the right was neutralised by Haber four minutes from half-time. Two minutes in the second half, a good header by Nikolai Kashevski, off an Omelyanchuk cross, was neutralised by Haber. In a swift counter-attack, Michael Mifsud ran past Zhevnov but his goal-bound shot was cleared into safety by a defender. Two minutes later, Aleksandr Hleb released Vitaly Kutuzov but the latter's diagonal shot ended just wide. Brian Said missed a good opportunity hitting wide off an inviting pass by Michael Mifsud on the 55th. Belarus replied with a diagonal shot from the left by Bulyga ending wide. Michael Mifsud tried to dribble the Belarus custodian on 58 minutes but he managed to turn the ball into a corner. On the hour, the visitors went close with a corner by Romashchenko on the hour from which Radkov's header was turned by Haber into a corner. From the resulting corner, another header by Radkov was cleared off the goal-line. Then, Romashchenko, served on the left, saw Justin Haber turning his fine shot into a corner a couple of minutes later. Fourteen minutes from time, off a beautiful cross by Aleksandr Hleb from the left, Vitali Kutuzov's volley ended high and in a swift counter-attack for Malta, Michael Mifsud left Pavlyuchek behind him but Mifsud's diagonal shot ended off-target. The crossbar denied Malta the lead six minutes from time when Cleavon Frendo served Michael Mifsud on the left but the latter's effort hit the woodwork. One minute from time, Belarus notched the winner when a direct freekick from the right by Maksim Romashchenko beat Justin Haber. After the game, Belarus captain Aleksandr Hleb was presented with the trophy by MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud. | |
04/02/2008, National Stadium - Ta' Qali
Malta International Tournament
Malta vs Iceland 1-0
| MALTA | Andrew Hogg, Josef Mifsud, Stephen Wellman, Luke Dimech (46' Ian Azzopardi), Kevin Sammut (73' Roderick Briffa), Andrew Cohen, Ivan Woods (20' Etienne Barbara)(84' George Mallia), Peter Pullicino (46' Gareth Sciberras), Cleaven Frendo (89' Roderick Bajada), Kenneth Scicluna, Jamie Pace.
Subs not used: Mario Muscat. Coach: Dusan Fitzel |
| ICELAND | Fjalar Thorgeirsson, Birkir Már Sćvarsson, Hjálmar Jónsson, Bjarni Gudjónsson, Atli Sveinn Thórarinsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson (46' Helgi Sigurdsson), Eyjólfur Hédinsson (63' Tryggvi Gudmundsson), Davíd Thór Vidarsson, Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson (73' Jónas Gudni Sćvarsson), Pálmi Rafn Pálmason, Baldur Ingimar Adalsteinsson (46' Stefán Gíslason).
Subs not used: Stefan Magnusson, Bjarni Eiriksson, Hermann Hreidarsson Coach: Olafur Johannesson |
| Referee | Alexey Kulbakov (BLR) |
| Assistant Referees | Philip Agius, Joe Camilleri |
| Fourth Official | Ararat Tshagharyan (ARM) |
| Yellow Cards | Hédinsson, Frendo |
| Scorers | 18' Cleavon Frendo |
| Malta collected its first three points in the Malta International Tournament as a goal by Cleavon Frendo enabled Dusan Fitzel's side to beat Iceland 1-0.
Fitzel made no less than ten changes from the team which lost to Armenia in his attempt to give all the players in the squad the chance to play. Luke Dimech, the only foreign-based player in the squad, took the captain's arm-band as Gilbert Agius and Brian Said were both left out. Malta had the first two attempts at goal, going close with shots from outside the area by Peter Pullicino on 4 minutes and Andrew Cohen six minutes later. The visitors replied with a Bjarni Gudjónsson effort ending just wide on 13 minutes. On the 18th minute, Malta took the lead when Cleavon Frendo managed to place the ball in the bottom right corner behind goalkeeper Thorgeirsson with a fine shot from outside the area from the left. Cleavon Frendo almost surprised the Icelandic goalie with a long-distance shot on 35 minutes and two minutes from the end of the first half, Gudjónsson had a freekick from outside the area neutralised by Hogg. Eight minutes in the second half, Thorvaldsson exchanged the ball with Pálmason before the latter's effort from the right was parried by Hogg. On 69 minutes, off a cross by Thorvaldsson, Sigurdsson anticipated Hogg with a header but the ball ended wide. Two minutes later the same player had a good shot blocked into a corner. Nine minutes from time, Andrew Hogg performed a good save on a Pálmason effort. On the other side of the pitch, Cleavon Frendo exchanged the ball with Roderick Briffa with the former's diagonal shot from the right ending just wide. Andrew Hogg turned into a corner a good attempt by Sćvarsson on the 89th minute and finally in stoppage time, Gareth Sciberras came to the rescue with a clearance off the goal line. | |
02/02/2008, National Stadium - Ta' Qali
Malta International Tournament
Malta vs Armenia 0-1
| MALTA | Mario Muscat, Shaun Bajada, Brian Said, Aaron Xuereb, Gilbert Agius (73' Stephen Wellman), Roderick Briffa, Etienne Barbara (73' Peter Pullicino), Ivan Woods (46' Andrew Cohen), George Mallia (46' Cleavon Frendo), Ryan Fenech (60' Gareth Sciberras), Roderick Bajada (86' Kenneth Scicluna).
Subs not used: Andrew Hogg Coach: Dusan Fitzel |
| ARMENIA | Mayis Azizyan, Karen Dokhoyan, Robert Arzumanyan, Aleksandr Tadevosyan (74' Henrikh Mkhitaryan), Aghvan Mkrtchyan, Ararat Arakelyan (66' Karen Aleksanyan), Artur Voskanyan, Levon Pachajyan (84' Karlen Mkrtchyan), Vahagn Minasyan, Gevorg Ghazaryan (58' Ara Hakobyan), Samvel Melkonyan (76' Norayr Sahakyan).
Subs not used: Grigor Meliksetyan, Hovannes Grigoryan. Coach: Jan Poulsen |
| Referee | Magnus Porisson (Iceland) |
| Assistant Referees | Konrad Borg and Alan Camilleri |
| Fourth Official | Alexey Kulbakov (Belarus) |
| Yellow Cards | Fenech, Arakelyan, R. Bajada, Melokonyan |
| Scorers | 69' Ara Hakobyan |
| For the second time in five months, Armenia defeated Malta 1-0 in the second game from the fourteenth edition of the Malta International Tournament.
In fact, in a friendly match last September, Armenia had registered another 1-0 win at Ta' Qali. Another friendly game between the two countries, played in 1994 in Yerevan, also ended in a 1-0 win for the former Soviet republic. As expected, Malta coach Dusan Fitzel opted for an experimental side, including both Shaun Bajada and Ryan Fenech - two players who were making their debut - in the starting line-up. Aaron Xuereb and Roderick Bajada, together with Etienne Barbara, were also given the opportunity to play from the first minute. This game also marked the debut for Danish coach Jan Poulsen who was appointed as new Armenia coach a couple of weeks ago. Mario Muscat was the first goalkeeper to be called into action as he performed a good save on a cross shot by Aghvan Mkrtchyan. On 11 minutes, following a good run by Roderick Bajada on the right, the Sliema midfielder's cross was parried by the Armenian goalkeeper. A shot by Roderick Bajada, served by Barbara, was neutralised by goalkeeper Azizyan on 33 minutes. A minute later, a powerful drive by Gilbert Agius was deflected into a corner by a defender. Malta then appealed for a penalty when Etienne Barbara seemed to be pushed inside the area by Arzumanyan. However referee Magnus Porisson waved play on. On 41 minutes, Mario Muscat performed a good save on a cross by Levon Pachajyan from the right, anticipating Gevorg Ghazaryan. In a counter-attack for Malta, Etienne Barbara hit just wide from outside the area. Finally one minute from half-time, Samvel Melkonyan hit the crossbar when served by Pachajyan. Fourteen minutes in the second half, Ryan Fenech managed to enter the penalty area but his low cross was blocked by a defender. Four minutes later, Armenia missed a good chance as there was no one to meet Melkonyan's perfect cross from the right. The visitors managed to take the lead on 69 minutes when Mario Muscat partially saved a good shot by Melkonyan following a fine move by the same player. Ara Hakobyan's first attempt was blocked but off the rebound, the same player managed to hit home. Malta went close to equalising two minutes from time when Gareth Sciberras' effort from close range was blocked into a corner by Arzumanyan and off the rebound, Kenneth Scicluna hit wide. In stoppage time, Muscat stopped Henrikh Mkhitaryan from doubling the score as he saved the Armenian striker's shot from outside the area. | |
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