Malta cruised to a 3-1 win against San Marino in their friendly international at Ta’Qali in Tuesday night.
Casting aside any lingering memories of their draw away to Lithuania in their World Cup qualifying round, Malta started on the front foot, attacking from the first whistle.
It took them only four minutes to open the scoring, Irvin Cardona, in only his second game for the national side, firing Malta in front.
Malta were playing with such confidence that a second goal was bound to follow and Zach Muscat was the provider with hardly ten minutes on the clock, his powerful close range shot to much for San Marino’s keeper Colombo.
Just after the half hour, Malta took complete control of this friendly when Paul Mbong made it 3-0.
There was an unwanted messy moment just before the break with both sides involved in a pushing and shoving match which saw Irvin Cardona and San Marino’s Filippo Bernadi both red-carded. That could hurt Malta in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
San Marino were awarded a penalty in extra time when referee Andre Chivulete spotted a foul inside the box. Andre Contadini’s spot kick too powerful to Bonello.
That was the end of Malta’s goal spree. The second half failed to add to their score line but produced more flowing, attacking football. A solid, comfortable win for Malta, the only blight the red card for Cardona.
