A Ryan Camenzuli strike just before the half-time whistle was enough for Malta to gain the first three points in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League. Michele Marcolini’s team bounced back from their disappointing display against Moldova with a fine all round effort as all the players rose to the occasion to secure a victory.
Compared to the Moldova game last Saturday, Marcolini axed Yannick Yankam, Steve Pisani, Kemar Reid and Paul Mbong in the starting line-up for Carlo Zammit-Lonardelli, Teddy Teuma, Kyrian Nwoko and Luke Montebello. Jean Borg, Kurt Shaw and Paul Mbong, who entered as a late substitute, all made their 25th cap for the national team, with Matthew Guillaumier again captaining the side.
Malta started strong, pushing the home-side into their own half for long stretches during the first half. On 19 minutes, Joseph Mbong’s shot from an intelligent free-kick set up with Guillaumier and Teuma was turned into a corner by Iker Alvarez. The Andorran goalkeeper did well to parade a towering Zammit Lonardelli header from the resultant corner kick, two great opportunities by Malta to break the deadlock. On 26 minutes, the unmarked Ryan Camenzuli picked up a loose ball just outside the area but miscued his kick and his attempt went wide.
The mid-period in this first half was most definitely Malta’s best spell of the game, however, just before the half-time break, the Falcons broke the deadlock. Guillaumier’s inviting cross was directed towards Nwoko but eventually fell into the path of Camenzuli whose first-timer left Alvarez without a chance, a great goal which put the visitors deservedly one nil up at the break.
🚨 GOAL! | Andorra 0-1 Malta
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45' – Camenzuli GIVES MALTA THE LEAD JUST BEFORE HALFTIME
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Six minutes after the restart, Bonello came to the rescue when Albert Rosas was sent through, beating Zach Muscat but the Hamrun Spartans goalie blocked splendidly. Two minutes later, Ian Olivera forced Bonello into a routine save with an angled header from a corner action. On the hour, a Zammit-Lonardelli on target header from a precise Camenzuli cross was saved by Alvarez.
On 65 minutes, barely a minute after coming on as a substitute, Jordi Alaez’ grounder from the edge of the box just missed target with Bonello beaten, perhaps the best chance for the hosts in the game. Four minutes later, Nwoko came inches close to double from a Kemar Reid cross. In the attack on the other side that followed, Bonello did again well to deny an Andorran goal, this time from a Ricard Fernandez attempt. With the hosts searching for an equaliser, spaces widened up and on 77 minutes, Joseph Mbong did well to battle the ball of Max Llovera but his goal attempt sailed wide.
Malta survived a late Andorran rally and, clearly relieved, welcomed the final whistle, obtaining an important moral boosting victory. Next month, on 13 October, Malta will host Moldova, this will be a decisive game in this group as both nations have now collected three points, while on November 19, Andorra will play the reverse fixture at Ta’ Qali.
Andorra
Iker Alvarez, Jesus Rubio (Jordi Alaez 64), Biel Borra (Ricard Fernandez 64), Ian Olivera, Max Llovera, Joel Guillen (Joao Teixeira 35), Moises San Nicolas (Eric de las Heras 81), Marc Vales, Eric Vales (Christian Garcia 81), Joan Cervos, Albert Rosas
Coach: Koldo Alvarez
Malta
Henry Bonello, Jean Borg, Zach Muscat, Kurt Shaw, Ryan Camenzuli, Carlo Zammit-Lonardelli, Teddy Teuma (Yannick Yankam 90+4), Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong, Kyrian Nwoko (Paul Mbong 78), Luke Montebello (Kemar Reid 60).
Coach: Michele Marcolini
Referee
Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden)
Yellow cards
Guillien, Alaez, Rosas (A) & Zammit-Lonardelli (M)
