A late penalty by Teddy Teuma handed Malta a narrow win over Moldova in match day 4 of the UEFA Nations League Group 2 at the National Stadium on Sunday.
However, the win could have been with a greater margin had Teuma not missed another penalty deep into stoppage time.
This win puts Malta on level points with Moldova with six points from three points but Moldova have a better goal difference in the direct encounters, having won the clash in Chisinau 2-0. The two teams will be facing Andorra next month – Moldova playing away from home at Andorra la Vella and Malta at Ta’ Qali. Should Moldova win in Andorra, they would win the group and secure promotion to League C. In case Moldova fails to win, Malta would have to beat Andorra to take the top spot.
Interim Malta coach Davide Mazzotta had three players making their debut as he handed Gabriel Mentz and Trent Buhagiar a start while Basil Tuma was included as a substitute.
Henry Bonello started in goal with Kurt Shaw, Mentz and Jean Borg at the back, Joseph Mbong and Ryan Camenzuli on the flanks., Matthew Guillaumier and Teddy Teuma as central midfielders with Trent Buhagiar and Paul Mbong supporting Luke Montebello.
The visitors went in search of an early goal but Malta went close with a powerful shot from the right by Kurt Shaw parried by Celeadnic on 21 minutes. Five minutes later, Gabriel Mentz headed just over the bar off a Trent Buhagiar freekick from the left. On 32 minutes, Teddy Teuma tested the Moldovan goalkeeper with a long-distance freekick which was however saved with particular difficulty. Moldova replied with an angled shot by Vitalie Damascan from the left with was saved by Bonello in two attempts.
For the second half, Mazzotta repalced Montebello and Buhagiar with Kemar Reid and Basil Tuma with the latter also making his senior debut.
Malta threatened on 50 minutes with a curling shot from a corner by Teuma which was somehow saved by Celeadnic. Four minutes later, the Moldovan goalkeeper saved a Kemar Reid effort from the right and then performed another good save on a fine shot by Teuma from outside the area on 57 minutes.
Kurt Shaw served Ryan Camenzuli on the left on 72 minutes but the latter’s inviting cross was cleared into safety by a defender.
Malta finally managed to break the deadlock three minutes from time. Basil Tuma was brought down inside the area by Vladislav Baboglo; referee John Brooks ordered a penalty and Teddy Teuma converted.
Four minutes in added time, Malta was awarded another penalty after Mandricenco handed the ball following a conclusion by Alexander Satariano. However, unfortunately Teuma hit high from the penalty spot.
MALTA Henry Bonello, Jean Borg, Ryan Camenzuli, Gabriel Mentz (90+3’ Zach Muscat), Kurt Shaw (90+3’ Luke Tabone), Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong, Paul Mbong (70’ Alexander Satariano), Teddy Teuma, Luke Montebello (46’ Kemar Reid), Trent Buhagiar (46’ Basil Tuma).
MOLDOVA Dumitru Celeadnic, Oleg Reabciuk, Vladislav Baboglo, Denis Marandici (46’ Maxim Cojocaru), Artur Ionita (77’ Victor Stina), Vitalie Damascan (55’ Dmitri Mandricenco), Mihail Caimacov, Artur Craciun, Victor Mudrac, Sergiu Platica, Vadim Rata (87’ Virgiliu Postolachi).
Referee: John Brooks ENG
Assistant Referees: Simon Bennett, Daniel Robathan ENG
Fourth Official: Sam Barrott ENG
VAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood ENG
Attendance: 5,754