Malta 0
Switzerland 0

Malta may not have been given a ghost of a chance of running Switzerland close in yesterday’s friendly in light of the national team’s poor record in 2010 but such expectations proved way off the mark.

Eager to start their 2011 schedule on a heartening note, Malta not only held their own but outshone the Swiss in the first half, igniting hopes of a morale-boosting result ahead of their Euro 2012 home qualifier against Greece next month.

With the score still goalless at half-time, a Swiss journalist felt compelled to ask me whether the Malta-based players are part-timers, before adding: “Our players are all professional but you hardly noticed the difference so far.”

The evening had started on a depressing note as Switzerland were awarded a penalty 90 seconds into the match but Justin Haber’s excellent save from Alexander Frei’s spot-kick laid the platform for an inspired showing by Malta whose rhythm only dropped in the second half as the visitors intensified their pressure.

Haber capped an outstanding performance by stopping another penalty early in the second half as his team-mates then quelled Switzerland’s desperate efforts in the final stages for the hosts to gain a commendable draw.

Malta’s vibrant showing will have pleased national team coach John Buttigieg whose decision to switch to 4-4-2 had the desired impact as it significantly enhanced his team’s attacking threat.

Buttigieg’s formation showed five changes from the 3-0 defeat to Croatia in a Euro 2012 qualifier last November.

Haber received the coach’s nod to guard goal ahead of Andrew Hogg while Carlo Mamo resumed his patrolling duties on the left after injury ruled him out of the Zagreb match.

Andrei Agius and Andrew Cohen were restored to the starting line-up after suspension while Paul Fenech was handed a rare start in midfield where he deputised for Jamie Pace.

The Valletta midfielder was among the substitutes as he has just recovered from injury.

A quick scan of Switzerland’s line-up highlighted the importance Ottmar Hitzeld attached to this friendly as he named a strong team that featured only two changes from the 4-1 rout of Wales in a Group G qualifier last October.

Hakan Yakin and Eren Derdiyok, of Bayer Leverkusen and Lucerne respectively, were awarded starting roles as Basel’s Marco Streller featured among the substitutes and Tranquillo Barnetta, of Bayer Leverkusen, was sidelined with injury.

Before kick-off, André Schembri was presented with the Sportiv tas-Sena award by Charles Camenzuli and Sandro Micallef, president and general secretary of the Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport.

After less than two minutes, Cypriot referee Marios Stamatis awarded Switzerland a penalty after Jonathan Caruana warded off Stephan Lichsteiner’s cross with his arm. Captain Frei took responsibility for the spot but Haber touched his shot onto the post.

The game was 10 minutes old when Malta fashioned their first chance. Brisk movement by Mifsud took him clear on the left of the box. His cut-back released Schembri whose central shot was blocked by Diego Benaglio.

Three minutes later, Schembri did well to intercept Pirmin Schwegler’s wayward pass but his attempt to pick out Mifsud was blocked by the Swiss defence.

Malta were now posing Switzerland problems on the counter.

An excellent floated pass by Cohen had Hitzfeld’s defence at sixes and sevens as Mifsud relied on his speed to surge through. He cut inside last defender Steve von Bergen who shoved Mifsud off the ball to concede a free-kick just outside the box. Strangely, Von Bergen was not even booked as Shaun Bajada swerved his shot past the wall but Benaglio fisted the ball over the bar.

Malta’s crisp passing in those early stages impeded Switzerland from establishing a foothold.

On 20 minutes, Haber showed courage as he dashed out of his goal to punch away Yakin’s cross from a free-kick. The loose ball fell to Gokhan Inler who drove his shot into the net but the referee had stopped play for a foul.

The red-shirted players were quick to transfer the ball forward with Mifsud winning another foul from an inviting position.

Cohen’s free-kick appeared destined to reach the net after taking a deflection but Benaglio dived at full stretch to turn the ball around the post.

Further proof of Malta’s fluid play came on 29 minutes when Stephan Grichting followed Von Bergen into the referee’s book for pulling the effervescent Mifsud just outside the box.

From the ensuing free-kick, taken by Cohen, the ball reached Fenech but his effort was deflected away for a corner.

Barely a minute later, Malta should have taken the lead.

Cohen waltzed his way into the box before hitting low but the ball grazed the base of the far post.

Hitzfeld tried to shore up his shaky defence by hauling off Grichting who was replaced by Francois Affolter.

And Switzerland threatened when Yakin’s set-piece cross from the right flew across goal but the ball just eluded Frei. It was then Mamo’s turn to come to Malta’s rescue when he slid in to clear Yakin’s centre after the Swiss playmaker had exploited the uncovered space on Malta’s right.

Switzerland sought to take the game to Malta in the second half.

Frei, a subdued figure until that juncture, could have put his team ahead when Reto Ziegler freed him in the box but blasted over.

Referee Stamatis incurred the wrath of the home fans when, 20 minutes into the second half, he awarded a second penalty to Switzerland after Fenech was adjudged to have felled Derdiyok following a melee in the Malta box.

Inler stepped up to take the penalty but for the second time, Haber dived the right way to block his effort. Amazing stuff from the goalkeeper who threw his arms into the air as Malta averted the ensuing danger.

But, the hosts struggled to keep up their attacking momentum in the second half even though they kept composure in the face of mounting pressure.

With 18 minutes remaining, Xherdan Shaqiri, a second-half substitute, could have put Switzerland ahead when he was first to a loose ball but his grounder went wide. Moments later, Streller headed past the near post from Lichsteiner’s right-wing cross and Haber denied Frei from close range.

Joseph Zerafa made his first showing for Malta when he came on for the injured Agius 10 minutes from time. Switzerland now dominated the game as they looked to save their face. Derdiyok sliced his header across the face of goal after meeting Ziegler’s service.

Shouts of ‘Malta, Malta’ reverberated across the stadium as the match moved into stoppage time and the home fans let out a raucous roar as referee Stamatis blew the final whistle.

Comments

Ottmar Hitzfeld (Switzerland): “We missed a big chance to score an early goal from the penalty and instead of building our game from that we finished up boosting our opponents.

“We had another good start in the second half but the story repeated itself and we missed a second penalty.”

John Buttigieg: “I am happy for the team and with the performance of my players. We knew this would be a difficult match but in the end we showed that we are capable of playing good football.

“All the players did well against a strong team.”

Malta: J. Haber, J. Caruana, C. Mamo (64 C. Failla), G. Sciberras, A. Agius (80 J. Zerafa), P. Fenech (56 J. Pace), R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (90 K. Sammut), S. Bajada, A. Schembri (85 I. Woods).

Switzerland: D. Benaglio, S. Lichsteiner, R. Ziegler, S. Von Bergen, P. Schwegler (41 B. Dzemaili), G. Inler (73 G. Fernandes), A. Frei (80 D. Degen), H. Yakin (46 M. Streller), S. Grichting (32 F. Affolter), V. Stocker (62 X. Shaqiri), E. Derdiyok.

Referee: Marios Stamatis (Cyprus FA).

Missed penalties: Frei (S) 2; Inler (S) 57.

Yellow cards: Von Bergen; Grichting; Mifsud; Schembri; Lichsteiner.

Players’ ratings
Haber-9, Caruana-6.5, Mamo-6.5, Sciberras-6.5, Agius-6.5, Fenech-6, Briffa-7, Mifsud-7.5, Cohen-6.5, Bajada-6.5, Schembri-7.5.

Subs: Pace-6; Failla-6.