A second half goal by Jurgen Degabriele gave Malta a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in a Friendly at Ta’ Qali on Friday night.
The match served as a preparation for the UEFA Nations League, to be played in June and September this year. It was the last one for 35-year-old central defender Andrei Agius, who will retire from the Malta national team after a loyal service of over 14 years.
Compared with the last outing in November last year against Croatia, Malta national team coach Devis Mangia changed his starting line up on four places. Kurt Shaw and Cain Attard are injured while Paul Mbong and Zach Muscat started on the bench. Instead, Mangia opted for a return of Steve Borg and Jurgen Degabriele, while Floriana midfielder Brandon Paiber made a re-appearance in the red shirt after an absence of 28 months. Andrei Agius started in his usual position in the heart of the defence, bidding his farewell from the national team in style. He was awarded the captain’s armband in his 103rd and final cap.
It was Agius himself who was close opening the score on seven minutes with a wonderful first-timer from the edge of the box from a Teddy Teuma pass, which was turned into a corner by Azeri goalkeeper Salahat Agayev. Agius had another goal attempt on 27 minutes from a free-kick but failed to find the net. Malta created several scoring opportunities during the first half, with Alex Satariano coming closest just after the half hour with a close-range attempt from a Mbong pass which was turned into a corner by the Azeri defence. On 38 minutes there was the first real threat of the guests via Ramil Sheydaev on the left wing, who served Aleksey Isaev on the edge of the box but the shot was blocked by Steve Borg before Henry Bonello could make his first save of the evening. Three minutes before half-time, Agius was replaced by Zach Muscat under a loud applause from the crowd. On the stroke of half-time, Malta was unlucky not to find the net when Degabriele hit the post from a Camenzuli cross.
The guests started more aggressively on the resumption and five minutes after the break, a deflected shot by Sheydaev hit the post for a corner. But it was Malta who regained composure quickly, creating a series of chances. On 53 minutes, Satariano should have done better after an inch perfect Teuma cross but his header from close-in missed direction. However, two minutes later, Malta took the lead. Degabriele, while entering the box, outpaced Maksim Medvedev after a precise through pass by Teuma, beating Agayev with a grounder. It was Degabriele’s fourth goal for Malta in only 15 caps. Just after the hour, Mbong could have doubled Malta’s lead after being served by Paiber, but the Hamrun Spartans winger drilled his attempt high over the bar. Three minutes later, Teuma sent substitute Luke Montebello through but his grounder missed target with only the goalkeeper to beat. On 77 minutes, a header of Paiber missed power from a Montebello cross while five minutes later, a Satariano shot was blocked by Agayev. Malta managed to survive a late rally by Azerbaijan without much problems, bagging the first win of 2022.
Next Tuesday, Malta will play a second Friendly against Kuwait, who played out a 1-1 draw this afternoon against Latvia.
Malta
Henry Bonello, Jean Borg (Ferdinando Apap 88), Steve Borg, Andrei Agius (Zach Muscat 42), Ryan Camenzuli, Joseph Mbong, Matthew Guillaumier, Brandon Paiber (Dunstan Vella 81), Teddy Teuma, Jurgen Degabriele (Luke Montebello 64), Alex Satariano (Steve Pisani 88).
Coach: Devis Mangia
Azerbaijan
Salahat Agayev, Maksim Medvedev (Renat Dadasov 75), Gara Garayev, Hojjat Haghverdi (Rustam Akmedzade 64), Abbas Huseynov (Dimitri Nazarov 64), Eddy Silvestre, Aleksey Isaev (Badavi Huseynov 64), Azer Salahli, Emin Makhmudov, Ramil Sheydaev (Amin Seydiyev 79), Filip Ozobic (Tural Bayramov 76).
Coach: Gianni de Biasi
Referee: Cesar Soto Grado (Spain)
Cautions: Silvestre, Nazarov (A)
Source: MFA
