Luxembourg made an important step towards securing their place in League C of the UEFA Nations League as a goal early in the second half and another in added time handed them a 2-0 win in the first leg of the League C/D Play-Off at the National Stadium on Thursday.
Following a goalless first half during which Malta also hit the upright, Luxembourg managed to take the lead soon on the restart and doubled the score in added time to take home a comfortable lead ahead of the second leg in programme at the Stade de Luxembourg on Tuesday.
Malta had its fair share of scoring opportunities but failed to convert these chances into goals.
Coach Emilio De Leo could not count on the suspended Joseph Mbong while James Carragher was left out of the squad as he is still on the road to full recovery after sustaining an injury.
Malta started with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Muscat, Shaw, Pepe and Camenzuli at the back, Guillaumier and Satariano as defensive midfielders with Mbong, Teuma and Chouaref behind Cardona.
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The boys in red had the first attempt at goal on 5 minutes with Zach Muscat hitting wide following a good move on the right between Teddy Teuma and Matthew Guillaumier. Two minutes later, a swift run by Aiman Dardari was halted by Guillaumier.
Luxembourg went close on 27 minutes with a fine shot by VIncent Thill whose curling shot scraped past the post after being served by Leandro Barreiro.
One minute later, Teuma served Cardona on the left and off the latter’s cross, Guillaumier’s effort was neutralised by goalkeeper Anthony Moris.
Malta lost Teddy Teuma injured and was replaced by Jake Grech eight minutes from the end of the first half.
Two minutes in added time, Satariano delivered a cross from the right, Jake Grech exchanged the ball with Mbong before serving Cardona whose first attempt was blocked by Seid Korac before hitting wide. Less than a minute later, Mbong served Chaouref on the left but the latter’s effort deflected by Laurent Jans hit the foot of the upright.
One minute in the second half, Paul Mbong missed a good opportunity when served by Chouaref from the left.
However a minute later, Luxembourg took the lead when Florian Bohnert delivered a cross from the left and the unmarked Vincent Thill slotted past Bonello from close range.
Irvin Cardona advanced on the right before testing Moris with an angled shot on 52 minutes and two minutes later, a long-distance effort by Chouaref was parried by the Luxembourg custodian.
Alex Satariano missed a good opportunity hitting wide when served by Zach Muscat on 78 minutes.
Three minutes from time, Paiber sent Chaouref through on the right but his cross was parried by substitute goalkeeper Tiago Pereira and one minute in the second half, Buhagiar just failed to connect from close range off a pass by Cardona from the right.
However three minutes in added time, Mathias Olesen doubled the score direct from a corner. An attempt which surprised goalkeeper Bonello and the Maltese rear-guard as they saw the ball end at the back of the net.
MALTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camenzuli, Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier (87’ Andrea Zammit), Paul Mbong (87’ Brandon Paiber), Teddy Teuma (37’ Jake Grech), Irvin Cardona, Enrico Pepe, Ilyas Chouaref, Zach Muscat (78’ Juan Corbalan), Alexander Satariano (78’ Trent Buhagiar).
LUXEMBOURG Anthony Moris (69’ Tiago Pereira), Seid Korac, Florian Bohnert, Christopher Martins (87’ Tomas Moreira), Aiman Dardari (69’ Jayson VIdeira), Danel Sinani (90+6’ Enzo Duarte), Dirk Carlson, Vincent Thill (68’ Sebastien Thill), Leandro Barreiro, Laurent Jans, Mathias Olesen.
Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH)
Assistant Referees: Senad Ibrisimbegovic, Davor Beljo (BIH)
Fourth Official: Milos GIgovic (BOS)
VAR: Matej Jug (SVN)
Assistant VAR: Mario Zebec (CRO)
Yellow Cards: Satariano, Pepe
Attendance: 9,467