Malta scored twice in the second half to beat Azerbaijan 2-0 in a friendly match at the Haladás Sportkomplexum in Szombathely, Hungary on Friday.
Following the unlucky 1-2 defeat to Slovakia on Monday, Malta was hoping for a positive result ahead of the UEFA Nations League commitments against Andorra and Gibraltar starting in September. The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the first half. In the second half, Azerbaijan were more aggressive but goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi who was handed a start, played an excellent match, keeping them at bay. Malta eventually managed to break the deadlock, adding a second goal in the dying minutes.
Photos courtesy of Malta FA
Malta coach Emilio De Leo opted for four changes from the team which lost to Slovakia, naming Enrico Pepe, Alejandro Garzia and Andrea Zammit in the starting line-up, apart from Al-Tumi, with Henry Bonello and Kean Scicluna being retained on the bench and Zach Muscat and Joseph Mbong included as substitutes in the beginning of the second half.
Azerbaijan went close after just four minutes with a close-range header by Mahir Emreli off a cross from the right. Elvin Jafarguliyev, served by Emreli, entered the area before testing Al-Tumi on 18 minutes. Malta replied with a shot from outside the area by Ilyas Chouaref which was parried by goalkeeper Emil Balayev on 25 minutes but less than a minute later, Emreli missed a good chance for Azerbaijan hitting wide off an inviting cross from the left.
Malta threatened on 27 minutes when Keyon Ewurum served Ilyas Chouaref who exchanged the ball with Alexander Satariano before testing Balayev from outside the area. Azerbaijan replied with a Bayramov effort from outside the area which was parried by Al-Tumi on 34 minutes. In added time, Bayramov had another attempt from the left while Ewurum concluded a good move on the left with a shot which was neutralised by the Azerbaijan goalkeeper.
Two minutes in the second half, a backheel pass by Emreli for Bayramov saw the latter testing Al-Tumi who turned the ball into a corner and ten minutes later, Al-Tumi deflected into a corner an Abdulakh Khaibulev effort from the edge of the area.
Malta managed to take the lead on 66 minutes. Satariano released Chouaref on the right and the latter served Joseph Mbong whose first attempt was blocked by a defender before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Balayev.
Two minutes later, Gabriel Mentz just missed the target with a fine shot from outside the area.
Azerbaijan went all out in search of the equaliser and Renat Dadasov had a conclusion neutralised by Al-Tumi on 73 minutes. Two minutes later, a freekick by Jafarguliyev was deflected into a corner by a defender and off an inviting cross by Jafarguliyev, Vusal Isgandarli missed an excellent opportunity from close range on 77 minutes. A Mutallimov effort from outside the area was turned into a corner by Al Tumi, aided by the crossbar two minutes later.
The former Soviet Republic maintained the pressure and on 81 minutes, an angled shot by Jafarguliyev was cleared by a defender with the ball reaching Aleksey Isaev whose attempt from outside the area was blocked by Al-Tumi, aided by the crossbar.
However, four minutes from time, Alexander Satariano doubled the score as he exchanged the ball with Joseph Mbong before pulling to a more central position before beating Balayev.
In added time, Rashed Al-Tumi performed another fine save on Vusal Isgandarli from the right.
AZERBAIJAN Emil Balayev, Elvin Jafarguliyev, Anton Krivotsyuk, Toral Bayramov (Rustam Akhmedzade 70’), Mahir Emreli, Khayal Aliyev (Nariman Akhundzade 8’)(Vusal Isgandarli 70’), Emil Safarov (Abdulakh Khaibulaev 46’), Elvin Badalov, Badavi Huseynov (Aykhan Guseynov 84’), Aleksey Isaev, Gismat Aliyev (Tellur Mutallimov 70’).
MALTA Rashed Al-Tumi (James Sissons 90+4’), Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier (Brandon Paiber 62’), Teddy Teuma (Paul Mbong 62’), Enrico Pepe (Gabriel Mentz 62’), Alejandro Garzia (Joseph Mbong 46’), Ilyas Chouaref (Carlo Zammit Lonardelli 84’), Juan Corbalan (Zach Muscat 46’), Alexander Satariano (Jake Azzopardi 90+4’), Andrea Zammit (Myles Beerman 46’), Keyon Ewurum (Kevin Cannavo’ 62’).
Referee: Mihály Káprály (HUN)
Assistant Referees: Balázs Buzás, Bence Belicz (HUN)
Fourth Official: Tamás Bognár (HUN)