Malta had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Lithuania in a match from Group G of the European Qualifiers at the Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas in Kaunas on Thursday.

A point which could have been three had the hosts not equalised thanks to a penalty six minutes in added time.

It was a fine performance by the boys in red who dictated matters for long stretches and created the better chances throughout the ninety minutes.

Malta coach Emilio De Leo was forced to make wholesale changes due to the absence of the injured Ryan Camenzuli, James Carragher and Teddy Teuma and the suspended Matthew Guillaumier. Gabriel Mentz was not fully fit and started the game on the bench while Jake Brimmer who was poised to make his debut was also ruled out injured.

Henry Bonello started in goal with Zach Muscat, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe and Myles Beerman at the back, Alex Satariano and Brandon Paiber as holding midfielders, Joseph Mbong and Chouaref on the flanks Paul Mbong and Irvin Cardona in attack. Cardona was making his debut.  

 The hosts went close after just rwo minutes with Gvidas Gineitis entering the area but his close range effort was neutralised by Bonello. Malta replied with a cross shot by Ilyas Chouaref which was parried by Gertmonas on 6 minutes. A Paulauskas effort, served by Gineitis, was parried by Bonello on 15 minutes. The Malta goalkeeper came to the rescue on 31 minutes performing a fine save on a Gineitis freekick from the left but two minutes later, Joseph Mbong had a shot from outside the area  ending just over the bar when served by Cardona.

Malta went close to taking the lead on 37 minutes when off a cross by Chouaref from the right, Paul Mbong had a shot from the edge of the area blocked by Gertmonas with Satariano taking the rebound but his header was cleared off the goal line.  A criss shot by Paiber was parried by the Lithuanian goalkeeper and one minute from the end of the first half, a lomg distance effort by Paul Mbong was also saved by Gertmonas. 

Four minutes in the second half, Alex Satariano went close with a powerful drive from outside the area when served by Paul Mbong and on  57 minutes, Irvin Cardona went close with an angled shot from the right following an intelligent pass by Chouaref.

Malta missed an excellent chance on 71 minutes when  Alex Satariano miskicked the ball from close range when served by Paul Mbong.

However seven minutes from time, Alex Satariano managed to put Malta ahead when he received an assist by Adam Magri Overend and beat the Lithuanian goalkeeper from close range. 

One minute in added time, Jake. Azzopardi was sent off for Malta for a dangerous tackle on Jankauskas after referee Kruashvili consulted VAR.

Six minutes in added time, the hosts equalised thanks  to a Gvidas Gineitis penalty after  Zach Muscat floored Edgaras Utkas inside the area.

Utkus was sent off for Lithuania on 99 minutes after receiving a second yelllow card. 

LITHUANIA: 1-Edvinas Gertmonas, 2-Artemijus Tutyskinas, 3-Edgaras Utkus, 4-Edvinas Girdvainis, 6-Modestas Vorobjovas (11- Romualdas Jansonas 76’), 7-Artur Dolznikov (17- Eligijus Jankauskas 46’), 9-Gytis Paulauskas, 10-Gratas Sirgedas (22-Paulius Golubauskas 68’), 13-Justas Lasickas, 15-Gvidas Gineitis, 19-Klaudijus Upstas Tomas Kalinauskas 69’). Coach: Edgaras Jankauskas

MALTA : 1-Henry Bonello, 5-Kurt Shaw, 7-Joseph Mbong (3-Adam Magri Overend 74’), 8-Paul Mbong (19-Jodi Felice Jones 74), 9-Ilyas Chouaref, 11-Irvin Cardona (17-Jake Azzopardi 86”), 13-Enrico Pepe, 15-Myles Beerman (21-Juan Corbalan), 20-Brandon Paiber (10-Jake Grech 64’), 22-Zach Muscat, 23-Alexander Satariano. Coach: Emilio De Leo

 

Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (ĠEO)

Ass. Referees: Levan Varamishvili, Zaza Pipia (ĠEO)

Fourth Official: Goga Kikacheishvili (ĠEO)