Roland Galčík notched the winner seven minutes in added time as Slovakia defeated Malta 2-1 in a friendly match at the MOL Arena in Dunajska Streda on Monday.
Slovakia were a better side in the opening minutes, taking advantage of some mistakes by the boys in red. However, Malta soon improved and equalised towards the end of the first half. Both sides had their fair share of scoring opportunities during the second half but deep into stoppage time, the hosts regained the lead.
Malta coach Emilio De Leo handed a start to Juan Corbalan, Kean Scicluna and Keyon Ewurum while Ryan Camenzuli and Irvin Cardona were both unavailable. Alejandro Garzia and Kevin Cannavo’ made their debut as they were included as substitutes during the second half.
Bonello started in goal with Muscat, Shaw, Scicluna and Corbalan at the back Guillaumier and Satariano in midfield with Chouaref, Teuma and Ewurum supporting Mbong. During the second half, De Leo made no less than ten substitutions with the only players to play the ninety minutes being Henry Bonello.
Photos courtesy of Malta FA
The hosts were more aggressive in the opening minutes but Malta had a good opportunity to take the lead on four minutes when Satariano served Joseph Mbong from the right and the latter rounded a defender but was anticipated by a defender before he could conclude from in front of the goalkeeper. Slovakia replied with a Tomas Suslov effort from the left, served by Haraslin, which was blocked by Bonello on 6 minutes.
However Slovakia were not to be denied on 9 minutes when the Maltese lost possession in midfield and served the unmarked Lukas Haraslin who rounded two defenders before beating Bonello with a curling shot from the left.
A free kick by Teddy Teuma from the right was parried by Dominik Takac on 12 minutes. Three minutes later, Keyon Ewurum concluded a good move on the left flank by rounding a defender and hitting just over the bar from a close angle.
Henry Bonello performed a good save at point blank on 24 minutes on David Strelec when served from the left by Obert.
Malta levelled matters on 37 minutes. Chouaref exchanged the ball with Teuma before releasing Zach Muscat on the right and off the latter’s cross, Satariano headed the ball down for Joseph Mbong to slot the ball past goalkeeper Takac.
Nine minutes in the second half, Susolv tested Bonello with a low shot from the edge of the area.
Substitute Andrea Zammit then went close to putting Malta ahead on 77 minutes with a powerful shot from the edge of the area ending just wide following a good move by Kevin Cannavo’ on the right while on 90 minutes, Bonello blocked an Adrián Kaprálik close range effort when served by Fasko. Two minutes in added time, Peter Kováčik hit the upright for Slovakia with a shot from outside the area.
However, five minutes, later, Slovakia notched the winner thanks to Roland Galčík who received an assist by Kapralik and beat Bonello with a diagonal shot from the left.
Malta will be once again in action on Friday as they face Azerbaijan at the Haladás Stadium in Szombathely, Hungary.
SLOVAKIA Dominik Takáč, Martin Valjent (80’ Michal Faško), Ľubomír Šatka (80’ Krisztián Bari), Peter Pokorný (46’ Matúš Bero), Tomáš Suslov (67’ Roland Galčík), Ondrej Duda (67’ Artur Gajdoš), László Bénes (46’ Adrián Kaprálik), David Strelec (40’ Róbert Boženík), Adam Obert, Lukáš Haraslín (67’ Mario Sauer), Hugo Pavek (80’ Peter Kováčik).
MALTA Henry Bonello, Kean Scicluna (46’ Enrico Pepe), Kurt Shaw (90+4′ Jean Borg), Matthew Guillaumier (90+4′ Jake Grech, Joseph Mbong (46’ Paul Mbong), Teddy Teuma (60’ Brandon Paiber), Ilyas Chouaref (74’ Alejandro Garzia), Juan Corbalan (46’ Myles Beerman), Zach Muscat (60’ Gabriel Mentz), Alex Satariano (60’ Andrea Zammit), Keyon Ewurum (46’ Kevin Cannavo’).
Referee: Mihály Káprály HUN
Assistant referees: Péter Kóbor HUN, Theodoros Georgiou HUN
Fourth official: Bálint Kišš SVK