After being held in a draw by Gibraltar on Thursday, Malta returned to winning ways, defeating Andorra 1-0 in another match from Group D1 of the UEFA Nations League at the National Stadium on Sunday in front of 5,894 spectators.
This win enables Malta to move five points clear of second-placed Gibraltar and six points ahead of Andorra.
It was no easy match for Emilio De Leo’s side as the locals struggled to penetrate the visitors’ rear-guard.
De Leo was forced to make one change as he replaced the injured Matthew Guillaumier with Brandon Paiber.
Henry Bonello started in goal with Juan Corbalan, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe and Ryan Camenzuli at the back, Brandon Paiber and Alex Satariano in midfield with Joseph Mbong, Teddy Teuma and Ilyas Chouaref supporting Irvin Cardona.
Malta threatened after just two minutes with a cross from the left by Ilyas Chouaref from which Joseph Mbong before testing goalkeeper Iker Alvarez from close range.
Andorra replied with a solo effort by Albert Rosas concluded with a shot from the edge of the area which was parried by Bonello on 9 minutes. six minutes later, the Malta goalkeeper came to the rescue neutralising a Pau Babot close-range header off a cross from the right.
On the other side of the pitch, Joseph Mbong concluded a good run on the right flank with a low shot from the edge of the area which was parried by Alvarez on 20 minutes but two minutes later, Guillaume Lopez hit the upright with a header off a cross by Alexandre Martinez.
Malta went close on 32 minutes when Joseph Mbong sent Teddy Teuma through on the left but the latter’s close-range effort was blocked by the Andorran goalkeeper.
Four minutes from the end of the first half, Ot Remolins had a powerful shot from outside the area ending just wide.
Malta finally managed to break the deadlock four minutes in the second half thanks to Teddy Teuma. Teuma exchanged the ball with Satariano on the left before serving Chouaref who returned the compliment with the Sliema Wanderers midfielder beating Alvarez with a diagonal shot from inside the area.
On the hour, following a short clearance, the visitors almost notched the equaliser when the ball was intercepted by Martinez who served Guillaume Lopez whose low shot was deflected by Bonello onto the foot of the upright before the Sliema custodian finally got hold of the ball.
Four minutes later, Juan Corbalan, served by Cardona, rounded a defender before testing Alvarez with a low shot from the right.Then on 67 minutes, Paiber sent Cardona through but Ian Oliveira managed to deflect the ball into a corner. Substitute Paul Mbong had a shot from outside the area ending just wide on 75 minutes. Three minutes later, a long distance free kick by Aron Rodrigo was parried by Bonello.
Ten minutes from time, Paul Mbong won a challenge outside the area and served Chouref whose shot from the edge of the area was parried by the Andorran goalkeeper.
MALTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camenzuli, Kurt Shaw, Brandon Paiber, Joseph Mbong (72’ Carlo Zammit Lonardelli), Teddy Teuma (56’ Paul Mbong), Irvin Cardona, Enrico Pepe (46’ Gabriel Mentz), Ilyas Chouaref (84’ Andrea Zammit), Juan Corbalan (72’ Zach Muscat), Alexander Satariano.
ANDORRA Iker Alvarez, Biel Borra, Pau Babot, Max Llovera, Alexandre Martinez (70’ Jordi Alaez), Guillaume Lopez, Albert Rosas, Moises San Nicolas (84’ Christian Garcia), Aron Rodrigo, Ian Olivera, Ot Remolins.
Referee: Mikkel Redder DEN
Assistant Referee: Deniz Yurdakul, Rene Risum DEN
Fourth Official: Jacob Karlsen DEN
VAR: Sandi Putros DEN
Assistant VAR: Jakob Kehlet DEN