Malta registered its first win since the appointment of Emilio De Leo as coach, defeating San Marino 3-1 in a friendly match at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
The boys in red dominated during the first half, taking a three-goal lead but after the dismissal of two players – one for each side, San Marino pulled one back thanks to a penalty before half-time. During the second half, the Maltese remained in control but failed to extend the lead.
Emilio De Leo opted for two changes from the draw with Lithuania in Kaunas as Juan Corbalan replaced Myles Beerman while Matthew Guillaumier was preferred to Brandon Paiber.
Photos courtesy of Malta FA
Malta had an excellent start, taking the lead on 5 minutes when Irvin Cardona gained possession in midfield and advanced upfield before unleashing a powerful shot whcih gave goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo, of Gzira United, no chance.
On 11 minutes, Malta scored the second goal. Cardona served Matthew Guillaumier from the left and the latterβs conclusion was deflected by Zach Muscat past goalkeeper Colombo to end at the back of the net.Β
San Marino replied with a Filippo Fabbri header which was parried by Bonello on 22 minutes and a minute later, a freekick by Choauref almost surprised Colombo.
Malta scored the third goal on 34 minutes. Malta scored the third goal courtesy of Paul Mbong who received the ball from a cross by Zach Muscat from the right and controlled well before slotting past the San Marino goalkeeper.Β
The Maltese maintained the pressure and following a good move, Alex Satariano served Paul Mbong whose effort was neautralised by Colombo and then Matthew Guillaumier hit wide off a cross by Zach Muscat.
Two minutes from the end of the first half, both sides ended in ten men after an incident inside the San Marino area which saw defender Fabbri end onto the ground sparked clashes between the two sets of players with referee Andrei Chivulete sending off both Irvin Cardona and Filippo Berardi.
Two minutes in added time, San Marino reduced the gap when Satariano pulled Contadini down inside the area; the referee ordered a penalty and Nicola Nanni made no mistake.
Ilyas Chouaref went close to restoring the three-goal lead ten minutes in the second half when he entered the area from the left but his angled shot just missed the target but on 70 minutes, Henry Bonello came to the rescue blocking a Lorenzo Capicchioni effort from the left.
Two minutes from time, Malta could have added another but following a fine run by Ilyas Chouaref on the left, he served substitute Adam Magri Overend who hit the ball just wide.
Malta: Henry Bonello, Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong (Adam Magri Overend 65β), Paul Mbong (Kemar Reid 65β), Ilyas Chouaref, Irvin Cardona, Enrico Pepe (Jean Borg 46β), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Kean Scicluna 86′), Zach Muscat (Myles Beerman 73β), Alexander Satariano (Yannik Yankam 65β).
San Marino: 1-Edoardo Colombo, Simone Giocondi, Filippo Fabbri (Marco Pasolini 46β), Michele Cevoli (Giacomo Valentini 58β), Lorenzo Capicchioni (Matteo Valli Casadei 75β), Nicola Nanni (Nicolas Giacopetti 66β), Filippo Berardi, Andrea Contadini, Alessandro Tosi (Marino Salicioni 58β), Samuele Zannoni, Marcello Mularoni (Alberto Riccardi 58β).
Referee: Andrei Chivulete (ROM)
Assistant Referees: George Florin Neacsu, Marius Florin Badea (ROM)
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara