A goal by Joseph Mbong earlier in the second half handed Malta a 1-0 win over Gibraltar in a friendly match at the National Stadium on Wednesday. A good test for the national team ahead of the important match from Group C of the European Qualifiers as Malta hosts North Macedonia at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
The locals were the better side right from the start, creating several goal scoring opportunities but Gibraltar goalkeeper Dayle Coleing was in excellent form, performing a number of good saves.
Marcolini named Henry Bonello in goal, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe and Steve Borg at the back with Joseph Mbong and Ryan Camenzuli on the flanks, Bjorn Kristensen and Matthew Guillaumier in midfield with Jodi Jones and Luke Montebello supporting Jurgen Degabriele in attack.
The locals threatened after just six minutes when off a good move between Jurgen Degabriele and Ryan Camenzuli, Luke Montebello’s effort was turned into a corner by Dayle Coleing. Six minutes later, Steve Borg sent Jurgen Degabriele through and the latter’s powerful drive was saved in two attempts by Coleing. Six minutes from the end of the first half, Matthew Guillauier tried his luck with a powerful shot which was parried by Coleing.
However just before the end of the first half, Jay De Barr tested Henry Bonello with a low shot from inside the area.
Five minutes in the second half, Jodi Jones tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside the area which ended just over the bar and two minutes later, Guillaumier headed high off an inviting cross by Caemanzuli from the left.
The locals kept pushing and on 54 minutes, a corner by Guillaumier created havoc inside the area with Steve Borg’s back-heel effort finally being neutralised by the Gibraltar goalkeeper.
Malta finally managed to break the deadlock on the 58th minute thanks to a great volley by Joseph Mbong which saw the ball end in the top right corner following a clearance by a defender.
Luke Montebello went close to doubling the score, hitting just wide off a Teddy Teuma corner on 64 minutes.
Dayle Coleing performed a good save on an angled shot by Matthew Guillaumier from the right on 78 minutes and two minutes later, the Gibraltar goalkeeper turned into a corner a shot from outside the area by Kyrian Nwoko. Four minutes from time, a fine shot by Paul Mbong from outside the area was turned into a corner by Coleing and the resulting corner by Teuma from the right was neutralised by the Gibraltar custodian.
MALTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camenzuli, Steve Borg, Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong (87′ Juan Carlos Corbalan), Luke Montebello (76′ Kyrian Nwoko), Enrico Pepe (62’ Jean Borg), Jurgen Degabriele (62’ Paul Mbong), Bjorn Kristensen (76′ Yannick Yankam), Jodi Jones (62’ Teddy Team).
GIBRALTAR Dayle Coleing, John Sergeant (80′ Ayoub El Hmidi), Bernardo Lopes (57’ Ethan Jolley), Liam Walker, Niels Hartman (72’ Lee Casciaro), Roy Chipolina, Aymen Mouelhi, Kian Ronan (72’ Ethan Santos, Tay De Barr, Ethan Britto, Nicholas Pozo.
Referee: MIlos Boskovic (MNE)
Assistant Referees: Aleksandar Djikanovic, Nikola Radulovic (MNE)
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Attendance: 821