Malta deserved a positive result against Denmark

Malta lost 2-1 against Denmark in their seventh outing of the  2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers played last Friday at Ta’  Qali National Stadium. For Malta, this result is rather disappointing and surely deserved  a  better positive  result considering  the chances created by our national team throughout the game.  Malta’s goal scored by Clayton Failla came from a superb free-kick.  Failla will remember this goal as it was his first ever,  he scored in the national colours. Malta suffered a goal in less than two minutes from kick off and an own goal  gave Denmark their third win in seven matches.  Luke Dimech and Alex Muscat were suspended and  Rowen Muscat and John Mintoff were handed a place in the  starting eleven. Maltese captain Michael Mifsud played his 98th match for Malta. The Danish had a perfect start and scored after 90 seconds through a Leon Andreasen who beat Haber with a low shot. Malta should have levelled the score on the 17th minute but the Danish goalkeeper saved  Andre Schembri’s shot.  Stephan Andersen  in the Danish goal  made another good  save from a Michael Mifsud shot. But a minute later Malta obtained a deserved equaliser.  Clayton Failla  goal from a free-kick was a gem. Mifsud missed a good scoring opportunity to put Malta ahead before the break. Malta was denied by the crossbar six minutes in the second half, after Michael Mifsud headed in goal off a cross by Roderick Briffa. A minute later, Denmark scored the winner. Christian Eriksen concluded a good move with his conclusive shot hit the cross bar, the ball bounced onto  the back of Ryan Camilleri to end at the back of the net for an own goal. Full match report  FIFA World Cup Qualifier Brazil 2014   Malta  vs. Denmark  FT 0-0 (HT 0-0)   Venue: Ta' Qali National Stadium   Date: 06/09/2013 Time: 20:00 Hrs       Malta  Denmark  1Haber Justin (Gk)1Andersen Stephan (GK) 4Sciberras Gareth2Andreasen Leon 5Agius Andrei3Kjaer Simon 7Failla Clayton4Agger Daniel (C) 8Briffa Roderick5Boilesen Nicolai 9Mifsud Michael (C)6Jacobsen Lars 11Herrera Edward7Jorgensen William Kvist 13Schembri Andre’8Eriksen Christian 14Mintoff John9Braithwaite Martin C 15Muscat Rowen10Pedersen Nicklas 17Camilleri Ryan11Falk Rasmus       Substitutes   12Hogg Andrew (Gk)16Schmeichel Kasper (Gk) 2Caruana Jonathan22Hansen Jesper (Gk) 3Borg Jacob12Bjelland Andreas 6Fenech Ryan13Ankersen Peter 10Cohen Andrew14Okore Jores 16Fenech Paul15Delaney Thomas 18Grioli Justin17Sloth Casper 19Vella Terence18Makienok Simon 20Gatt Baldacchino Clifford19Nielsen Nicki Bille   20Fischer Viktor   21Larsen Emil  Coach   Pietro Ghedin Morten Olsen     Referee   Anastasios SIDIROPOULOS (FIFA & Greece FA)   Assistant referees   Christos BALTAS (FIFA & Greece FA) & Michail KARSIOTIS (FIFA & Greece FA) Fourth official   Ilias SPATHAS (FIFA & Greece FA)       G: Goal, Y: Yellow, R: Red, Sub in: Substituted in , Sub out: Substituted Out,Missed Pen: Missed Penalty, Scored Pen: Scored Penalty