MALTA 0
FINLAND 1
Antman 39
MALTA
H. Bonello, R. Camenzuli (71 K. Nwoko), K. Shaw, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong (83 A. Magri Overend), I. Chouaref, T. Teuma, J. Carragher, P. Mbong (71 B. Tuma), Z. Muscat (89 M. Beerman), A. Satariano (83 E. Pepe).
FINLAND
L. Hradecky, R. Ivanov, O. Antman (82 A. Suhonen), F. Jensen, K. Kairinen, M. Tenho, M. Peltola (46 R. Lod), N. Alho, J. Uronen (63 T. Ollila), B. Kallman (70 T. Pukki), J. Pohjanpalo (63 D. Hakans).
Referee: Simone Sozza (Italy).
Yellow card Peltola.
Red card: Shaw (M) 78.
Malta opened their World Cup qualifying campaign on a frustrating note after they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Finland at the National Stadium.
It was a harsh outcome to a match which had seen the Maltese, under the charge of new coach Emilio De Leo, producing a very spirited performance and created enough chances to take something from the match.
But in the end, it was Finland who returned home with the three points as Oliver Antman’s first-half goal, which came following a rare distraction by the Malta defence, proved decisive.
However, Malta should feel hard-done by the final outcome as they showed a lot of attacking intent throughout the 90 minutes, creating several scoring opportunities which they failed to convert and in the end that came back to haunt them as they slumped to a disappointing defeat.
Still, there were a lot of positives to take for coach De Leo who will be hoping his team can build on this performance ahead of Monday’s tough fixture against Poland in Warsaw.
James Carragher and Ilyas Chouaref were both named in Malta’s starting formation by coach Emilio De Leo.
Carragher is set to feature in a four-man defence alongside Kurt Shaw and Zach Muscat and Ryan Cam while experienced duo Steve Borg and Enrico Pepe were forced to settle with a place on the bench.
In midfield, Teddy Teuma was handed to task the team’s engine room alongside Matthew Guillaumier and Alexander Satariano and Joseph Mbong.
Upfront, Chouaref teamed up with Paul Mbong in a bid to provide attacking spark to the national team who are looking to pick up their first points in their first outing in the World Cup qualifiers.
Finland were off to a quick start and inside the first minute, Benjamin Kallman forced Henry Bonello into a diving save.
Malta created their first chance on eight minutes when Teddy Teuma’s cross-pitch pass found Joseph Mbong who stormed inside the area, but his angled drive flashed wide.
At the other end, Bonello repelled Nikolai Alho’s effort.
The home side continued to threaten and on 13 minutes, Alex Satariano went on a surging run that took him past two defenders and his firm drive was pushed away by Hradecky.
Malta kept pushing and on 15 minutes, Paul Mbong hit a curling drive from the edge of the area and Hradecky was alert to block.
The best chance of the half fell to Finland as on 31 minutes Antman sent a dipping cross into the path of Joel Pohjanpalo who saw his header brilliantly kept out by Bonello. The ball fell to Benjamin Kallman who incredibly fired over in front of a gaping goal.
Ten minutes from the break, Kallman threatened again when anticipated Bonello, but his header flew over.
Finland broke the stalemate on 39 minutes when Kallman’s angled drive was somehow kept out by Bonello and in came Oliver Antman who stabbed the ball home.
Three minutes from the break, Malta tried to respond but Chouaref’s volley flew over.
Malta started the second half with their foot on the accelerator and on 49 minutes Chouaref initiated a swift transition which saw the Sion winger picked Paul Mbong on the right.
The Birkirkara forward pulled inside the area and his shot was blocked Robert Ivanov with Hradecky beaten.
Just shy of the hour mark the home side protested for a penalty when Satariano seemed to fall under a challenge inside the area but the referee waved play on.
On 61 minutes Paul Mbong collected a ball inside the area and his low cross was connected by Zach Muscat, but his shot was deflected to a corner.
Twenty minutes from time, De Leo roped in Basil Tuma and Kyrian Nwoko in a bid to add more firepower to his forward line.
On 74 minutes, Chouaref picked Joseph Mbong inside the area but the Ħamrun forward glanced the ball wide.
Sixteen minutes from time, Nwoko had the chance to make an instant impact when he played clean through but the Sliema forward saw his shot finish just past the upright.
Malta’s hopes of taking a point were dashed on 77 minutes when Shaw was shown a straight red card for a violent challenge on Kaan Kairinen after VAR intervened.
With a man less on the field, the Maltese tried to stage a late rally but they failed to breach the Finnish goal as the visitors held on for the win.
Ian
March 22, 2025 at 10:53 am
A keeper who punches the ball away toward the penalty spot instead of obe of the corner flags is always going to be punished.
He got away with it minutes earlier.
Yes Malta were unfortunate, some very creative play, three or four decent chances but still no end product.
That is the root cause.
She deserved the red
But I do see better times ahead with Chouaref and Carraghers addition to the squad