Excellent first half performance not enough to earn Malta a positive result

An excellent first half performance was not enough for Malta to earn a much sought positive result in their third 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualification match. T, Gebre Selassie's 34th minute goal, which was practically the only serious attempt on goal from the Czechs in the first half, was soon neutralised by a stunning strike after four minutes from Roderick Briffa, who was Malta's outstanding player in this first period. The Czechs took over the game in the second period and managed to score two goals by T. Pekhart (52) and J. Rezek (67).Malta's Michael Mifsud missed the chance to reduce the gap when he saw his 92nd minute penalty kick being parried by Czech Goalkeeper P. Cech. more photos on MFA FANZONE http://www.mfa.com.mt/en/mfa-fanzone-photogallery/photogalleryfz/15/czech-rep-vs-malta-3-1---12th-oct-2012.htm   FIFA World Cup Brayil 2014 Qualifier    Czech Republic vs Malta FT 3-1 (HT 1-1)    Scorers: T Gebre Selassie 34, T Pekhart 52, J. Rezek 67 (CZK)  Venue: Doosan Arena, Plzen    Date: 12th October 2012, Time: 18:00 Hrs.        Czech Rpublic vs Malta  Malta1Petr Čech 1Andrew Hogg2Theodore Gebre Selassie (G 34) 3Alex Muscat3Michal Kadlec 4Gareth Sciberras6Tomáš Sivok 5Andrei Agius8David Limberský 6Luke Dimech9Jan Rezek (G 67) 7Edward Herrera12František Rajtoral (Sub out 61) 8Roderick Briffa (G 38)13Jaroslav Plašil 9Michael Mifsud17Tomáš Hübschman 13Andre' Schembri (Sub out 87)19Petr Jiráček (Sub out 72) 15Steve Borg20Tomáš Pekhart (G 52, Sub out 81) 18Shawn Bajada (Sub out 88)      Substitutes   12František Rajtoral 12Justin Haber4Marek Suchý 2Jonathan Caruana5Roman Hubník 10Paul Fenech (Sub in 87)7Josef Hušbauer 11John Mintoff11Milan Petržela (Sub in 61) 14Ayrton Azzopardi (Sub in 88)18Matěj Vydra 16Terence Vella21David Lafata (Sub in 81) 17Ryan Camilleri22Vladimír Darida (Sub in 72)   23Jaroslav Drobný         Coach    Michal Bílek (CZK)  Pietro Ghedin (MLT)      Referee    Mr. Salmanov Anar  (FIFA & Azerbaijan FA)    Assistant Referee 1    Mr. Hashimov Mubariz (FIFA & Azerbaijan FA)    Assistant Referee 2