MALTA 0
ANDORRA 0
MALTA
H. Bonello, J. Borg, R. Camenzuli (35 M. Beerman), G. Mentz, K. Shaw, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong, T. Teuma (90 S. Pisani), P. Mbong (46 A. Satariano), J. Degabriele (24 E. Pepe), T. Buhagiar (46 B. Tuma).
ANDORRA
I. Alvarez, M. Garcia (77 A. Da Cunha), A. Rosas, I. Fernandez , M. San Nicolas, E. De Las Heras, J. Cervos, J. Da Silva (63 Babot), I. Olivera, B. Borra (77 J. Rubio).
Referee Luka Bilbija (Bosnia)
Yellow cards J. Mbong, Fernandez, Da Silva, Beerman, Olivera.
Red card: Mentz (M) 17.
The Malta national time endured a frustrating end to their UEFA Nations League campaign when they could not go beyond a goalless draw against Andorra at the National Stadium.
Malta’s performance was severely effected by the early dismissal of defender Gabriel Mentz that left the team playing for more than 70 minutes with a player less.
The Maltese did try to impose themselves over their opponents and did enjoy long spells of possession, however, they failed to capitalise on the chances they created, particularly as they played without a pure forward for much of the match following the enforced early substitution of Jurgen Degabriele.
Added to that, the team needed to bank on all their resilience to fend off Andorra who were very dangerous on more than one occasion, particularly through their forward Albert Rosas who was unlucky to have an effort coming off the woodwork while also being denied time and again by Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello who had another excellent showing to preserve his team’s clean sheet.
In the end, the stalemate prevailed as Malta had to settle with a point that left them second in the group on seven points and will now await to discover their opponents in the Nations League promotion play-offs when the draw is made on Friday.
After giving a run-out to a number of fringe players in Thursday’s 2-0 friendly win over Liechtenstein, Mazzotta brought in his big guns to his starting formation.
Kurt Shaw and Gabriel Mentz joined Jean Borg in the three-man defence as Enrico Pepe and Luke Tabone were named among the substitutes.
Wingers Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Mbong were handed a recall after being rested against Liechtenstein while Teddy Teuma partnered Matthew Guillaumier at the heart of the team’s engine room.
Upfront, Jurgen Degabriele was rewarded for his match-winning cameo against Liechtenstein with a starting berth ahead of Kyrian Nwoko while Paul Mbong was back in a support role for the hibernians forward.
Malta started brightly and after 11 minutes Trent Buhagiar used his speed to open up Andorra’s defence before leaving the ball to Joseph Mbong who saw his low shot saved by goalkeeper Iker Alvarez.
Malta suffered a blow on 17 minutes when Gabriel Mentz was shown a straight red card by referee Luka Bilbija after he was caught by the VAR officials of hitting Andorra’s Albert Rosas in an off-the-ball incident.
That Mentz red card forced Mazzotta to withdraw Degabriele and bring in defender Pepe.
Andorra were unlucky not to take the lead when forward Rosas outpaced Jean Borg on a long pass but his first-time shot hit the bar with Bonello beaten to the relief of the home fans.
Rosas continue to be a thorn in the Malta defence and on 34 minutes Bonello had to be alert to turn the Andorra forward’s corner over the bar.
A minute later Malta suffered another blow when Ryan Camenzuli pulled out injured and was replaced by Myles Beerman.
On 36 minutes Joseph Mbong came agonisingly close to put Malta ahead when the Ħamrun winger was picked inside the area by Teuma but his shot was somehow pushed away by Alvarez.
Two minutes later Guillaumier sent a dangerous low cross but found no takers.
Bonello again came to Malta’s rescue just before half-time when he showed great reflexes to turn away Cervos’ cross-shot.
On the restart, Mazzotta made another two changes as he withdrew Buhagiar and Paul Mbong and brought on Basil Tuma and Alex Satariano as he looked to add fresh energy into the team.
It was Andorra who came agonisingly close to take the lead when the excellent Rosas outwitted Pepe and stormed inside the area but his shot flashed wide.
Andorra substitute Babot twice threatened to put his team in front.
First he hit a thumping drive from the edge of the area but Bonello was alert to push over.
Then, on 72 minutes, he anticipated Pepe and hit a low drive that was again saved by Bonello.
In the final part of the match, it was inevitable that fatigue would creep into the Maltese players and a minute from time, Rosas almost snatched the winner but his angled drive just whizzed past the upright.
