Solid Malta deserves more against North Macedonia

UEFA EURO 2024 QUALIFIER (GROUP C)
23.03.2023, Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje

NORTH MACEDONIA…2
MALTA…1
(HT 0-0)

1-0 Elmas 66, 2-0 Churlinov 72, 2-1 Yankam 86.

Besides an excellent first hour, Malta went down tonight in Skopje against North Macedonia by the odd goal in three, with all the goals arriving in the latter part of the second half. While the hosts proved to be rather toothless up front, the former Yugoslav republic put things straight after the break with two well played out strikes. A late goal by Malta debutant Yannick Yankam brought some hope for the visitors to get a result with Joseph Mbong and Juan Corbolan having two late attempts which could brought Malta a much deserved draw. However, the home-side were the luckier team tonight, as the Maltese played with confidence throughout the match, as there were many positives on the pitch to build on.

New coach Michele Marcolini opted to start with Birkirkara duo Cain Attard and Paul Mbong, while the other change compared to Malta’s last outing in November last year against Ireland was the inclusion of team captain Steve Borg, collecting his 71^st cap for Malta. As reported, 25-year-old Birkirkara midfielder Yannick Yankam made his debut for Malta as a late substitute, the 331^st Maltese player to don the national jersey, crowing this memorable milestone with a goal.

The match was a couple of minutes old when Teddy Teuma did well to manoeuvre himself in a wonderful position to shoot from the edge of the box but his goal attempt missed direction. The guests organised themselves well in the opening period, keeping the Macedonians at bay during the initial phase of the game.

On 18 minutes, centre-back Darko Velkovski rose high from a corner action, but his header sailed comfortably over the bar, in what was the best chance for the hosts in the first half. The Maltese combined well, feeding Paul Mbong and Alex Satariano mainly over both flanks, with mixed results. The only danger the Macedonians could bring were from various set-pieces, but the Maltese rear-guard cleared most which came their way. In stoppage time, Satariano’s shot was blocked by Gjoko Zajkov. However, the goalless half-time score was justified, as there was very little goalmouth action all-together.

The Maltese continued to show the better ideas at the start of the second half especially through the Mbong brothers, who both showed their best, catching the Macedonian rear-guard on the wrong foot on a number of occasions. On the hour, Henry Bonello made his first save of the evening, blocking an Elif Elmas shot. In the action that followed, Ryan Camenzuli allegedly brought down Bojan Miovski in the box with the referee awarding a penalty. However, after VAR interference, the decision was overturned and Miovski was shown a yellow card for simulation.

With the visitors growing in confidence, the home-side broke the deadlock on 66 minutes thanks to an Elmas grounder from just inside the box, rounding off a good move by Miovski. Six minutes later, substitute Darko Churlinov doubled for Macedonia, fully capitalising on a Maltese defensive error when the ball was lost early in the build-up. With four minutes regular time left, Malta were back in the match thanks to Yankam, who took full advantage of some indecision by the Macedonian defence from a precise Juan Corbolan cross, with Yankam somehow fumbling the ball behind goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski from close-range.

On the stroke of full-time, Enis Bardhi kicked his curling free-kick against the crossbar. Three minutes into stoppage time, Joseph Mbong’s thunderbolt was saved well by Dimitrievski, while Corbolan’s attempt with seconds left to play was turned into a corner by the Macedonian custodian, who had plenty to do in the last 15 minutes of the match.

However, it was too little too late for the Maltese, who can look back on a solid match however, with many positives to take home.

Malta is playing Italy on Sunday at Ta’ Qali (kick off 20h45), who lost 2-1 in Naples against England in the other Group C match this evening.

North Macedonia
Stole Dimitrievski, Stefan Ristovski, Darko Velkovski (Darko Churlinov 58), Visar Musliu, Ezgjan Alioski (Stefan Ashkovski 78), Gjoko Zajkov (Kire Ristevski 90+2), Jani Atanasov, Enis Bardhi, Elif Elmas, Bojan Moivski (Milan Ristovski 78), Aleksandar Trajkovksi (Ilija Nestorovski 58).
Coach: Blagoja Milevski

Malta
Henry Bonello, Ferdinando Apap, Steve Borg, Cain Attard, Ryan Camenzuli (Juan Corbolan 77), Matthew Guillaumier, Bjorn Kristensen (Yannick Yankam 77), Joseph Mbong, Teddy Teuma (Brandon Paiber 84), Paul Mbong (Shaun Dimech 67), Alex Satariano (Jodi Jones 84).
Coach: Michele Marcolini

Referee: Kristho Tohver (Estonia)

Yellow cards: Bardhi, Aloiski, Miovski, Atanasov (NM), Kristensen, Teuma, Borg (M)