Prestigious draw against Greece on Agius' debut

FRIENDLY ‘A’ INTERNATIONAL MATCH
17th November 2022, National Stadium, Ta’ Qali,

MALTA…2
GREECE…2
(HT 0-1)

0-1 Bakasetas 39, 1-1 Degabriele 54, 2-1 Teuma, pen, 68, 2-2 Fountas 86.

The Maltese national team was back in action tonight, obtaining a prestigious two all draw in a Friendly with Greece, the number 52 in the current FIFA rankings. It was the first match under the guidance of Under-21 coach Gilbert Agius, who has been temporarily appointed as national team coach of the senior squad.

There were only two changes compared with the last Friendly, the 2-1 victory over Israel in September. Teddy Teuma started instead of Bjorn Kristensen in midfield while Paul Mbong was preferred to start in lieu of Jan Busuttil.

From a tactical point of view, Malta played well-organised throughout the match, trying to build up attacks from the back, coping well with the Greek attacks.

On ten minutes there was a wonderful move between Teuma and Joseph Mbong, who’s precise cross failed to reach Jurgen Degabriele in the box. Four minutes later, Teuma’s grounder from the edge of the box just missed target, nearly rounding off a wonderful attack from back to front, despite some early pressing by the Greeks. But on 39 minutes, in practically their first shot at goal, the Greeks broke the deadlock thanks to an accurate shot by captain Anastasios Bakasetas.

Malta equalised on 54 minutes. In an attack initiated on the right flank, Matthew Guillaumier intelligently released Jurgen Degabriele in the box, who’s grounder had the better of Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis. On 67 minutes, Malta were awarded a penalty for a handsball infringement when Paul Mbong’s cross ended up against the arm of Greek substitute Andreas Bouchalkis in the box. Teuma converted the spotkick in style to put the homeside 2-1 up.

On 79 minutes there was some controversy when the Greeks claimed a handsball in the Maltese box, with eventually Greek substitute goalkeeper Vassilis Barkas being sent-off from the bench and yellow cards for coach Poyet and another Greek official. Four minutes later, Bonello turned a thunderbolt of Taxiarchis Fountas into a corner.

During the final five minutes of regular time, the visitors stepped the accelerator in search for an equaliser. On 86 minutes, a cross from the left created havoc in the Maltese rear-guard with Foutas in the right place to hammer past Bonello. On the stroke of full-time, Foutas’ volley from a precise Tasos Chatzigiovanis cross was spectacularly saved by Bonello.

Malta will now play another Friendly on Sunday, the last match of 2022, against the Republic of Ireland, kick off 20h again at the National Stadium.

Malta
Henry Bonello, Jean Borg (Karl Micallef 80), Enrico Pepe, Steve Borg (Ferdinando Apap 46), Ryan Camenzuli, Joseph Mbong (Juan Corbalan 52), Matthew Guillaumier, Teddy Teuma, Paul Mbong (Bjorn Kristensen 80), Shaun Dimech (Jodi Jones 80), Jurgen Degabriele (Alex Satariano 80)
Coach: Gilbert Agius

Greece
Alexandros Paschalakis, Lazaros Rota, Pantelis Chatzidiakos, Georgios Tzavellas (Konstantinos Koulierakis 46), Dimitris Giannoulis (Giorgos Kiriakopoulos 80), Manolis Siopis (Sotirios Alexandropoulos 80), Dimitris Pelkas (Taxiarchis Fountas 68), Fotios Ioannidis (Anastasios Douvikas 68), Petros Mantalos, Anastasios Bakasetas (Andreas Bouchalakis 46), Tasos Chatzigiovanis.
Coach: Gus Poyet

Referee: Alain Durieux (Luxembourg)

Images copyright Domenic Aquilina/MFA