Referee: Ass. Referees: Fourth Official: Scorers: Yellow cards:
E. Hamiti (Albania) E. Doda, I. Tartaraj (Albania) O. Ferataj (Albania) M. Guillaumier 12, A. Szalai 48 M. Beerman 28, G. Makrai 62, D. Vella 81, J. Galea 90) Myles Beerman was Malta’s hero yesterday as he scored an added time winner with which Malta defeated Hungary 2-1.
It was a richly deserved win for Malta’s boys who played their best match, even if this was their first win which therefore brought about their first points after nine matches.
Silvio Vella’s boys deserved the applause of the crowd present after their very commanding and confident performance which should certainly lift their morale in view of next Tuesday’s final Group 6 clash against Cyprus, also at the Centenary Stadium.
Vella’s boys played a good first half, never showing any inferiority complex.
Hungary perhaps saw more of
the ball and also had some good chances which they missed, but the Maltese did not stare at them.
In fact, they operated in fast breakaways especially after having taken the lead on 11 minutes. From then on, I was impressed with their organisation, especially at the back, where they rarely put a foot wrong.
In the second half, Malta’s performance improved despite Hungary obtaining an early equaliser.
In fact, they created two very good chances which could have seen them regaining the lead, but first Vella and later Nwoko were both denied by Hungarian goalie Bese.
But that was only the prelude to that late Beerman goal which secured the win and points for Malta.
It was the excellent defenders – not just the scorers – which kept Malta’s flag flying high as they kept their cool and played with great confidence at the back, never giving their opponents a clear pot at goal.
The first action arrived on 5 minutes when a cross from Szalai found the unmarked Gazdag, but the latter’s shot was well saved by Jake Galea.
Malta opened the score on the 12th minute when from a Degabriele freekick, it was Matthew Guillaumier who beat goalie Bese with a neat header.
On 18 minutes, Kyrian Nwoko took hold of a loose ball on the edge of the Hungary area, but his low shot went just wide.
Two minutes later, from a cross by Varga, the ball was controlled badly by the unmarked Zsoter who eventually missed the target with a rising shot.
Hungary equalised soon after the start of the second half. From a Zsoter cornerkick, Attila Szalai rose above friend and foe to head home past a helpless Galea.
In the 54th minute, after a good move between Nwoko and Degabriele, Myles Beerman concluded badly from the edge of the area.
In the 57th minute, Malta should have gone ahead once again when a fine combination between Nwoko and Degabriele ended with the latter sending Dunstan Vella through, but his effort was too central and was blocked by the Hungarian goalie.
Two minutes later, it was goalie Galea who saved Malta’s fort – he intercepted a dangerous cross from Varga.
On 70 minutes, from a Kurt Zammit cross, Nwoko had his header saved by goalie Bese.
On 82 minutes, substitute Nikolai Muscat tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area, but the ball went wide.
Malta scored a richly deserved winner in added time when he received a perfect through pass from Degabriele, Myles Beerman controlled beautifully to beat goalie Bese with an excellent rising shot.