Malta earns first point as Lithuania held to a draw
Malta earned its first point in qualifying Group F yesterday evening as Pietro Ghedin’s side figured in a 1-1 draw with Lithuania.
Andrei Agius shot Malta ahead on 23 minutes, but Slivka equalised for Lithuania in the 53rd minute.
It was a richly deserved point following a gallant display which showed all the determination of the local boys not to end their commitments in the group without any points. And that, of course, in the knowledge that they face a tough final clash against Slovakia in Trnava next Sunday.
It was also a satisfying moment for the Italian mentor Ghedin who had to field a depleted side yesterday. In fact, Michael Mifsud, Jean Paul Farrugia and Bjorn Kristensen were all ruled out through injury, while Ryan Fenech was suspended. To add insult to injury, Ghedin also had to do without captain Andre Schembri who was injured near the end of the first half and had to be replaced by Clayton Failla.
In the first half, it was more or less a balanced affair with the Lithuanians enjoying a slight superiority in midfield.
However, neither side appeared able to provide trouble to the respective defences.
Malta’s rearguard was well organised with Ryan Camilleri, Andre Agius and Zach Muscat dealing with all that came at them quite confidently. Zerafa and Borg were also confident on the flanks and they also did well in providing support to the midfield where Paul Fenech, Luke Gambin and Steve Pisani helped Malta’s cause a lot as they managed to win several balls.
Up front, both Effiong and especially Schembri did their best against a strong Lithuanian defence. The latter was unlucky when he was the victim of a heading duel near the end of the half which led to his substitution at the start of the second half.
In the second half, Lithuania showed superiority especially after they managed to score an equaliser early in the half.
And with Schembri replaced, the Malta team appeared to be shocked, but somehow or other, they managed to resist and eventually they recovered.
In fact, it was goalie Zubas who denied them the lead twice through good saves off Failla and Agius.
At the end, the Maltese deserved the applause of the crowd present at Ta’ Qali.
The match had a quiet start as both teams sized up each other, but Lithuania perhaps saw more of the ball without, however, being effective.
But the match sprang into life on the 23rd minute when Malta took the lead. It was central defender Andre Agius who fired a fine grounder from around 30 metres which completely beat goalie Zubas, the ball hitting the upright before landing at the back of the net.
Soon after, the Malta fort passed through an anxious moment as Lithuania almost equalised. From a Vaitkuna cross into the area, the ball seemed to have deceived everyone. It hit the far upright and gratefully ended in Hogg’s waiting hands.
Lithuania started applying some pressure on the Maltese fort in search of an equaliser, but the Malta defence was well organised and goalie Hogg was only called to deal with some crosses.
On one occasion, Matulevicius was set in the Malta area by Slivka, but his cross was cleared away by a Maltese defender.
In first half added time, Egidius Vaitkunas who tested Hogg with a grounder from the edge of the area, but the Malta goalie dealt with it confidently.
Lithuania went all out in search of an equaliser at the start of the second half and it was no surprise that they eventually found the net on the 53rd minute when Vykintas Slivka ran through the Maltese midfield to fire a fine rising shot from the edge of the area that beat Hogg all ends up.
On the hour, it was Hogg who covered himself with glory as he turned a Novikas freekick to corner in style.
On 65 minutes, Gambin was involved in a fine solo move which however ended with a shot which finished well wide.
Four minutes later, Effiong was floored on the edge of the area, but substitute Clayton Failla’s freekick was excellently saved by goalie Zubas with the ball being cleared to safety by a Lithuanian defender. And the same goalkeeper was again prominent two minutes later as he dived sideways to turn to corner an Andrei Agius header, following a Failla freekick.
Both sides played cautiously till the end as neither goalie was again seriously tested.