Archives

Malta gain second UNL point after Andorra draw

Published: 10-10-2020 21:45
image2 (33)
image3 (16)
image4 (101)
image5 (118)
image6 (142)
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE – Group D110.10.2020, Estadi Nacional - Andorra la Vella ANDORRA 0MALTA       0 Despite playing the better football, Malta could not go beyond a goalless draw against Andorra on matchday 3 of the UEFA Nations League. The game, played at te Estadi Nacional, lacked spark attack with Malta intent of dictating matters only to find it difficult to carve a way through the solid Andorran defence. Compared to Malta’s last outing in the UNL last month, the draw against Latvia, captain Andrei Agius started instead of Enrico Pepe in defence, Steve Pisani replaced the suspended Matthew Guillaumier in midfield and up front, Paul Mbong was handed his very first national team start in lieu of the injured Kyrian Nwoko. Later in the match, Hibernians midfielder Bjorn Kristensen entered the fray as a substitute, making a return to the national team after an absence of more than two years. Malta had full control of the match in the first half with goalkeeper Henry Bonello having very little to do. In the eighth minute,  Luke Gambin's header, after an inch-perfect cross from the left by Ryan Camenzuli, went inches over the crossbar. On 24 minutes, Paul Mbong tried his luck with a shot from about 20 metres distance but Josep Gomes saved his attempt.Three minutes past the half-hour, Jurgen Degabriele, in an ideal position, couldn’t fully connect with a Camenzuli cross from the left. The first goalscoring opportunity in the second half was for Andorra as on 51 minutes Cristian Martinez pounced on a misplaced pass but his low shot however did not trouble Bonello. Malta kept on dominating after the break, but without creating clear goalscoring opportunities against the hard-working hosts.   Earlier today, Faroe Islands and Latvia drew 1-1, which means that the Faroe Islands are still the group leaders with seven points, followed by Latvia on three points with Malta and Andorra on two points each. Malta now travel to Latvia for their next match on Tuesday.  ANDORRAJ. Gomes, E. Garcia, M. Vales, J.Cervos, C.Martinez (M. Garcia 85), J. Rubio, M. Vieira, M. Pujol, A. Martinez (V. Bernat 94), R. Fernandez (J. Alaez 70), A. Sanchez (L. San Nicolas 85). MALTAH. Bonello, R. Camenzuli, Z. Muscat, A. Agius, S. Borg, J. Mbong, S. Pisani (B. Kristensen 79), T. Teuma, L. Gambin, J. Degabriele, (L. Montebello 61), P. Mbong (J. Grech 79). YELLOW CARDSC. Martinez, M. Vales, J. Cervos (A), S. Borg (M). Referee: Alain Durieux (Luxembourg)