Malta lost 1-4 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly match at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors managed to take a two-goal lead and although Malta pulled one back, Bosnia and Herzegovina scored two late goals to seal the issue.
Despite an injury sustained during the training session on match-day -1, former Malta national team captain Steve Borg wore the captain’s armband for a last time to make a final appearance for the national team – the 82nd appearance for Malta for the Valletta defender.
Emilio De Leo also handed Zach Muscat and Paul Mbong a start after both skipped the Netherlands game as they were serving a one-match ban. Borg, Muscat and Mbong replaced Kurt Shaw, Juan Corbalan and Joseph Mbong with Shaw replacing Borg after just one minute.
Henry Bonello started in goal with Zach Muscat, Borg/Shaw, Enrico Pepe and Ryan Camenzuli at the back, Matthew Guillaumier and Alexander Satariano as holding midfielders with Ilyas Chouaref, Teddy Teuma and Paul Mbong behind Irvin Cardona.
Photos courtesy of Malta FA
Bosnia and Herzegovina had the first attempt on goal after seven minutes with Esmir Bajraktarevic trying his luck with a shot from outside the area ending just wide after rounding Camenzuli.
On 16 minutes, the visitors managed to take the lead courtesy of Amar Memic who concluded a good move with a rising shot from just inside the area which gave goalkeeper Bonello no chance.
Malta replied with a cross from the right by Teddy Teuma from which Ilyas Chouaref headed just wide on 36 minutes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina doubled the score eight minutes in the second half thanks to Haris Tabakovic, served by Memic from the right. slotting the ball past the Malta custodian.
Henry Bonello blocked with his foot another Tabakovic effort three minutes later when served by Menalo on the left.
The boys in red threatened on 58 minutes when Teuma sent Chouaref through on the left and the latter’s pass for Cardona was anticipated in time by Dzenis Burnic before the Malta forward could tap the ball inside the empty net.
Malta pulled one back on the hour when goalkeeper Martin Zlomislic floored Satariano inside the area; referee Vitalijs Spasjonnikovs ordered a penalty and Paul Mbong’s effort hit the foot of the upright before ending at the back of the net.
The Maltese continue to gain more confidence and on 66 minutes, Irvin Cardona headed just wide off a cross from the left. Ten minutes later, an angled shot by Paiber from the right was neutralised by Zlomislic.
However six minutes from time, Bosnia and Herzegovina sealed the issue with a third goal courtesy of Benjamin Tahirovic who beat Bonello from close range.
Two minutes later, Nail Omerovic slotted the ball past Bonello after the Malta goalkeeper had performed three consecutive attempts – two by Basic and one by the same Omerovic.
MALTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camenzuli (46’ Juan Carlos Corbalan), Steve Borg (1’ Kurt Shaw), Matthew Guillaumier (42’ Brandon Paiber), Paul Mbong (90+1′ Basil Tuma), Ilyas Chouaref, Teddy Teuma, Irvin Cardona, Enrico Pepe, Zach Muscat (90+1′ Joseph Mbong), Alexander Satariano (61’ Jodi Jones).
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA Martin Zlomislic, Dennis Hadzikaudunic, Esmir Bajraktarevic (71’ Nail Omerovic), Amar Dedic (46’ Benjamin Tahirovic), Samed Bazdar (71’ Armin Gigovic), Ivan Basic, Ivan Sunjic (46’ Luka Menalo), Amar Memic (67’ Kerim Alajbegovic), Adrian Leon Barisic (71’ Nikola Katic), Dzenis Burnic, Haris Tabakovic.
Referee: Vitalijs Spasjonnikovs (LAT)
Assistant Referees: Raimonds Tatriks, Arturs Sakurovs (LAT)
Fourth Official: Matthew De Gabriele