Degabriele scores for Malta as the second goal results from a blunder
MALTA………………2
LIECHTENSTEIN…0
Video credit: TVMSport
Without causing any dramatic upsets, Malta commendably secured a victory against Liechtenstein in a friendly match. This game served as preparation for the crucial UEFA Nations League clash with Andorra next Tuesday. This win marked Malta’s third consecutive triumph, following 1-0 victories over Andorra away and Moldova at home. Additionally, it was Malta’s fourth home win against Liechtenstein, having previously defeated them 7-1 in 2008, 2-1 in 2012, and 3-0 in 2020, all in friendly matches, maintaining an unblemished record against the Principality.
Malta’s interim coach, Davide Mazzotta, chose to field an experimental lineup, featuring several newcomers. In defense, Jean Borg retained his position while Luke Tabone was given his debut start. Myles Beerman and Enrico Pepe made their return to the national squad. In midfield, Floriana pair Dunstan Vella and Carlo Zammit-Lonardelli were included from the outset. Up front, Kyrian Nwoko was selected over more established forwards. Henry Bonello continued as goalkeeper, with Matthew Guillaumier leading the team as captain in his 41st appearance for Malta.
The opening 45 minutes were balanced as neither side managed to find a breakthrough but with the visitors rarely testing Bonello. Apart from a Guillaumier free-kick in the opening phase and a 25-meters distance grounder of Zammit-Lonardelli, the launch of the game was rather scrappy. On 35 minutes, Buhagiar was sent away on the right-hand side of the box but Benjamin Buchel, the Liechtenstein goalkeeper, interfered well to turn the attempt from the Brescia winger into a corner. This was most definitely Malta’s best opportunity of the first half.
Right after the re-start, Buhagiar set-up Paul Mbong in the box who forced Buchel into a fine save. On 51 minutes, Malta took the lead. Guillaumier battled his way through midfield, serving substitute Jurgen Degabriele who beat Buchel with an intelligent left-footer from the edge of the area, his sixth goal for Malta. Three minutes later, Degabriele was set-up once more, but this time the on-storming Buchel turned the attempt into a corner. From that Degabiele corner kick, Luke Tabone headed in from the edge of the six-yard box with the Liechtenstein custodian scoring an own goal with his right arm.
On 69 minutes, substitute Alex Satariano tested Buchel once again with an angled drive from close-range, with Buchel blocking Degabriele’s rebound. The match however failed to bring any excitement with limited goalmouth action. Towards the very end of the game, Neil Micallef was given his Malta debut by entering as a substitute for Jean Borg.
On Saturday at 18h, Moldova will play Andorra away in a match which will be followed by the Malta faithful with great interest. On Tuesday, Malta faces Andorra in a last group match of this edition of the UEFA Nations League, kick off 20h45.
Malta: Henry Bonello (Rashed Al-Tumi 60), Jean Borg (Neil Micallef 88), Luke Tabone, Enrico Pepe (Gabriel Mentz 60), Myles Beerman, Matthew Guillaumier (Teddy Teuma 60), Dunstan Vella, Carlo Zammit-Lonardelli, Paul Mbong (Alex Satariano 60), Trent Buhagiar, Kyrian Nwoko (Jurgen Degabriele 46)
Coach: Davide Mazzotta
Liechtenstein: Benjamin Buchel, Martin Marxer (Niklas Beck 24), Sandro Wieser (Kenny Kindle 46), Maximilian Goppel, Lars Traber, Aron Sele (Livio Meier 58), Nicolas Hasler (Sandro Wolfinger 46), Marcel Buchel (Fabio Wolfinger 71), Simon Luchinger, Ferhat Saglam, Dennis Salanovic (Fabio Luque Notaro 58)
Coach: Konrad Funfstuck
Referee Gustavo Fernandes Correia (Portugal)
Yellow cards Pepe, Zammit-Lonardelli (M); Marxer, Wieser, Sele, Wolfinger (L)
