Alex Satariano (centre) charges forward against Lithuania. Photo: Malta FA
LITHUANIA 1
Gineitkis 90 pen.
MALTA 1
Satariano 87
LITHUANIA
E. Gertmonas, K. Upstas (68 T. Kalinauskas), E. Girdvainis, E. Utkus, A. Tutyskinas, M. Vorobjovas (76 R. Jansonas), G. Sirgedas (68 P. Golubickas), J. Lasickas, G. Gineitis, A. Dolznikov, G. Paulauskas.
MALTA
H. Bonello, M. Beerman, E. Pepe, K. Shaw, Z. Muscat, A. Satariano, B. Paiber (64 J. Grech), P. Mbong (74 J. Jones), I. Chouaref, J. Mbong (74 A. Magri Overend), I. Cardona (86 J. Azzopardi).
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia).
Yellow cards Satariano, P. Mbong, Shaw, Beerman, Dolznikov.
Red card: Azzopardi (M) 90, Utkus (L) 90+
The Malta national team was seconds away from a crucial victory over Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier, but a controversial late penalty denied Emilio De Leo’s players their first win in a World Cup qualifying campaign.
It was a heartbreaking outcome to a match that offered two faces throughout the 90 minutes.
In the first half, the Lithuanians held the edge and created several chances to take the lead, with goalkeeper Henry Bonello decisive in keeping the clean sheet after the first 45 minutes.
But in the second half, the Maltese grew in stature and had various chances to take the lead.
Their efforts were finally rewarded three minutes from time when Satariano seemed to have secured the three points.
But it was not to be as the Maltese had substitute Jake Azzopardi sent off for a rash challenge late on, and then came the controversial penalty decision that denied the team a win that would have lifted them above Lithuania in the standings.
Despite the disappointing outcome, there are still many positives for coach Di Leo to take from this match, particularly given the number of key players missing, and if the team can build on the second half performance, they can aspire for more positive results in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
De Leo was forced to make do without a string of key players for this important clash.
Wingback Ryan Camenzuli was rated unfit to start and was replaced by Myles Beerman, while Kurt Shaw filled the void left by the injured James Carragher. In midfield, Teddy Teuma, recovering from injury, and the suspended Matthew Guillaumier were replaced by Brandon Paiber and Ilyas Chouaref, with the latter taking a more advanced midfield role.
Upfront, Irvin Cardona was handed his first start as he led the forward line with Joseph Mbong and Paul Mbong, operating just behind him.
Lithuania were off to a fast start and could have taken the lead after two minutes.
The hosts took advantage of some hesitation in the Malta defence as Gvidas Gineitis sped inside the area, and after evading a tackle, he saw his shot brilliantly blocked by onrushing Henry Bonello.
The Lithuanians remained the more adventurous side, and in the 15th minute, Gytis Paulauskas made space for himself inside the area, but his shot was saved by Bonello.
The Maltese players were committing too many fouls, with Alex Satariano and Paul Mbong booked by Georgian referee Giorgi Kruashvili.
Mbong’s booking was a costly one for the FC Cukaricki player as he will miss Malta’s next qualifier against the Netherlands at the National Stadium due to suspension.
Bonello came to Malta’s rescue again on 31 minutes when he dived full stretch to keep out Gineitis’ inswinger from a free-kick.
Malta’s first effort towards the goal arrived on 32 minutes when Cardona served Joseph Mbong on the edge of the area, but his curling drive finished high and wide.
The visitors’ best chance arrived on 37 minutes when Chouaref picked Joseph Mbong on the edge of the area and his low drive was pushed away by Gertmonas.
From the rebound, Satariano saw his header cleared off the line by Paulauskas.
At the other end, Dolznikov does well to exchange the ball with Gineitis, and his thumping drive just missed the target with Bonello beaten.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Bonello came to Malta’s rescue again when he denied Dolznikov from close in.
After the break, Di Leo withdrew Beerman and roped in Corbalan in a bid to add more cover to the left channel.
Malta quickly threatened, as on 47 minutes, Alex Satariano saw his shot finish just wide.
The match remained evenly balanced, with the Lithuanians struggling to create any clear-cut chances.
On 63 minutes, the Maltese can count themselves lucky as a rash challenge by Enrico Pepe on Girdvainis inside the area was not sanctioned by the referee and VAR officials despite TV replays showing that the Malta defender had made contact on the leg of the Lithuanian counterpart.
Nine minutes later Satariano had three chances in the space of a minute to give his team the lead.
First, he failed to connect well with Mbong’s cross from close in and then seconds later he picked up a short rebound, but his effort was blocked.
Then a minute later, the former Birkirkara midfielder hit a firm drive that just missed the upright.
But Satariano was not to be denied, as six minutes from time, he fired home the winner.
Chouaref picked substitute Adam Magri Overend on the right, and his low cross was turned home by Satariano to the delight of the Maltese clan.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Malta were reduced to ten men when Jake Azzopardi, who had just replaced Irvin Cardona, after he was adjudged by the VAR officials to have committed a violent tackle on Lasickas
More misery was in store for Malta as in the sixth minute of stoppage time Georgian referee Giorgi Kruashvili harshly judged that Zach Muscat had fouled Edgaras Utkus from a corner. TV replays clearly showed that there was little contact between the two players, but the VAR officials confirmed the referee’s decision and the penalty decision stood.
Gineitis stepped up to convert the resultant penalty and hand a point to his team.
Just before the final whistle, Lithuania also finished with ten men when Utkus was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed.
But that little mattered as there was no more time left as the referee blew the final whistle.
