Degabriele back in the goals as Malta ease to comfortable win

MALTA            2

Degabriele 50; B. Buchel 54og

LIECHTENSTEIN 0

MALTA

H. Bonello (60 R. Al-Tumi), J. Borg, M. Guillaumier (60 T. Teuma), P. Mbong (60 A. Satariano), E. Pepe (60 G. Mentz), K. Nwoko (46 J. Degabriele), M. Beerman, T. Buhagiar, D. Vella, C. Zammit Lonardelli, L. Tabone.

Liechtenstein

B. Buchel, L. Traber, S. Wieser (46 K. Kindle), M. Marxer (24 N. Beck), M. Goppel, A. Sele (58 L. Meier), M. Buchel (72 F. Wolfinger), S. Luchinger, N. Hasler (46 S. Wolfinger), F. Saglam, D. Salanovic (57 F. Luque Notaro).

Referee Gustavo Correia (Portugal).

Yellow cards Marxer, Sele, Pepe, Zammit Lonardelli.

Malta produced a strong second-half performance to brush aside Liechtenstein in an international friendly at the National Stadium.

It was the perfect warm-up for our national team ahead of next week’s final UEFA Nations League qualifier against Andorra as interim coach Davide Mazzotta recorded his second successive win since replacing Michele Marcolini at the helm of the team.

Jurgen Degabriele was without a doubt the chief architect of Malta’s victory as the Hibernians forward completely changed the game with his introduction as he managed to create all sorts of problems to the Liechtenstein game with his fast running and link up play upfront.

It was no surprise that it was Degabriele lit up the national team with a fine individual strike to put the team ahead.

And from then on there was no way back to Liechtenstein who after conceding a second goal, courtesy of an own goal committed by goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel, they were lucky not to concede more goals as the hosts created several chances.

But no doubt, Mazzotta will be pleased with the team’s improvement and will hope this upward trajectory displayed by the national side will continue in Tuesday’s Nations League clash against Andorra

Malta interim coach Davide Mazzotta has named a few changes to his starting formation as Luke Tabone was drafted in a three-man defence at the expense of Kurt Shaw while Enrico Pepe was back in the fray as he started ahead of Gabriel Mentz.

Myles Beerman and Carlo Zammit Lonardelli patrolled the flanks ahead of Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Mbong.

In midfield, Dunstan Vella was preferred to Teddy Teuma while Kyrian Nwoko filled the void left by injured forward Luke Montebello.

The first half was devoid of scoring chances. Malta enjoyed the higher percentage of possession but they rarely threatened the Liechtenstein goal as their decision-making in the final third of the pitch.

On the other hand, Liechtenstein were rarely dangerous with Malta goalkeeper henry Bonello never really tested by the visitors’ forwards.

In fact, Malta’s only chance came on 34 minutes when Trent Buhagiar profited from a defensive mix-up in their attempt to close down Luke Tabone’s through-ball but the Brescia attacking midfielder was denied by the onrushing Liechtenstein goalkeeper Buchel.

During the half-time interval, Mazzotta decided to bring on Jurgen Degabriele for Kyrian Nwoko as he looked to add more speed to his team’s forward line.

On the restart, Malta made a fast start when Zammit Lonardelli fed Buhagiar who quickly squared the ball to Paul Mbong but was denied by Buchel.

Malta’s pressure yielded an opener and Degabriele quickly repaid the coach’s faith with a fine opener.

Matthew Guillaumier fed Degabriele on the edge of the area and the Hibernians forward turned past his marker and beat Buchel with an angled drive.

For Degabriele it was a crucial goal and timely injection of confidence particularly as the nippy forward had been rarely used by the national team during the past 18 months and his last goal came two years ago against Greece.

Degabriel almost struck against three minutes later when he broke through but was denied by Buchel.

However, from the ensuing flag-kick taken by the same Degabriele, Luke Tabone’s header was inadvertently turned into his own net by the Liechtenstein goalkeeper.

Malta came close to a third goal when substitute Alex Satariano latched onto Beerman’s deflected cross but his shot was somehow kept out by Buchel and from the rebound, Degabriele was again denied by the Liechtenstein goalkeeper.

From then on, Malta opted to administer their advantage as they cruised home to a comfortable victory.