A goal just before half-time handed Malta a narrow win over Andorra at the Estadi Nacional in Andorra la Vella in another match from Group D2 of the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.
The boys in red therefore bounced back from the disappointing defat to Moldova to maintain alive hopes of winning the group.
Malta had four changes from the team which lost to Moldova on Saturday as Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, Teddy Teuma, Kyrian Nwoko and Luke Montebello were preferred to Steve Pisani, Yannick Yankam, Paul Mbong and Kemar Reid.
Henry Bonello was confirmed in goal with Zach Muscat, Kurt Shaw and Jean Borg as the three central defenders with Zammit Lonardelli and Ryan Camenzuli on the flanks. Joseph Mbong joined Teddy Teuma and Matthew Guillaumier in midfield while Kyrian Nwoko partnered with Luke Montebello up front. Mbong eventually assisted Nwoko and Montebello in attack.
Malta had the first attempt at goal on 19 minutes when off a short freekick from the right by Teddy Teuma, Matthew Guillaumier served Joseph Mbong whose rising shot from outside the area was deflected into a corner. From the resulting corner by Teuma, Carlo Zammit Lonardfelli’s fine header was turned into nother corner by Alvarez. Four minutes later, Rubio concluded a good run on the right but his pass was intercepted by Zach Muscat who cleared the ball into safety.
Matthew Guillaumier tested the Andorran goalkeeper with a freekick from the right on 29 minutes. Andorra replied with a freekick by Cervos from which Rosas went close with a header on 45 minutes.
Malta forged ahead just a few seconds later when Ryan Camenzuli managed to slot the ball past goalkeeper Alvarez from the left.
Six minutes in the second half, Henry Bonello came to the rescue blocking an Albert Rosas effort after the latter advanced into the area. Three minutes later, Bonello saved a close-range header by Oliveira off a corner from the left by Cervos. Malta replied with a Guillaumier freekick which was neutralised by Alvarez on 59 minutes. A minute later, off a cross by Camenzuli, Zammit Lonardelli tested the Andorran goalkeeper with a header.
However Andorra threatened on 61 minutes with a rising shot by Rubio from the right which ended just wide. Five minutes later, Teixeira delivered a cross from the left and a first time effort by Jordi Alaez scraped past the post. Kyrian Nwoko then missed a good opportunity for Malta, heading just wide off a cross from the left on 70 minutes and in a swift counter-break by Andorra, Ricard Fernandez had a good run on the left, interrupted by Bonello who neautrlised his attempt.
On 76 minutes, Joseph Mbong stole the ball off Llovera and advanced to the edge of the area but his concliosn ended just wide and four minutes later, he failed to connect from xlose range off an inviting pass by his brother Paul.
ANDORRA Iker Alvarez, Marc Vales, Max Llovera, Eric Vales (81’ Christian Garcia), Albert Rosas, Moises San Nicolas (81’ Eric De Ias Heras), Joan Cervos, Jesus Rubio (64’ Jordi Alaez), Joel Guillen (35’ Joao Teixeira), Ian Oliveira, Biel Borra (64’ Richard Fernandez).
ANDORRA Iker Alvarez, Marc Vales, Max Llovera, Eric Vales (81’ Christian Garcia), Albert Rosas, Moises San Nicolas (81’ Eric De Ias Heras), Joan Cervos, Jesus Rubio (64’ Jordi Alaez), Joel Guillen (35’ Joao Teixeira), Ian Oliveira, Biel Borra (64’ Richard Fernandez).
Report: Malta Football
