Malta produced another outstanding performance in their final match from Group G of the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A 3-2 loss to Poland, ranked number 33 in the world, is a result that fails to do justice to Malta. Twice they came from behind to level with their more fancied opponents only to suffer a heart-breaking loss in the closing minutes.
Malta made the brighter start and looked as though they could cause an upset only for Robert Lewandowski to head past goalkeeper Bonello on the half hour.
A lead that lasted all of four minutes when Chouaref set up Joseph Mbong whose effort was blocked by the Polish goalkeeper and off the rebound, Irvin Cardona’s first attempt was blocked by a defender before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Dragowski.
1-1 at the break and the Malta players and supporters had their tails up.
Lewandowski, surely still one of the deadliest strikers in the game, set up Pawel Wszolek who regained the lead for Poland as the clock showed 60 minutes.
All credit to Malta who refused to bow their heads. Last week’s stunning victory away to Finland gave them a new found confidence and when Teddy Teuma fired home from the penalty spot with twenty minutes remaining, the impossible looked tantalizing close.
That dream was shattered when Piotr Zielinski, with five minutes left on the clock and with a hint of a deflection, beat Bonello to clinch the win for Poland.
It was that close. Malta, against the odds, had nearly caused a major upset. Poland surely could not have predicted that they would be pushed all the way. Credit to Malta who left with their heads high. The win against Finland and this outstanding performance against Poland should boost Malta’s morale ahead of the UEFA Nations League play-offs against Luxembourg in programme in March.
Photos: MFA
