Malta 0 Switzerland 0
Goalkeeper Justin Haber was Malta's hero today as he saved two penalties to enable Malta to draw with Switzerland in a friendly at Ta' Qali.
His first save came just two minutes into the game when Johnathan Caruana's extended arm caused the referee to point to the spot. Alexander Frei took the penalty shot.
Haber repeated his success in the 56th minute, saving a low penalty shot by Gokhan Inler.
Today's international was the first for Malta this year and coach John Buttigieg will take heart from the performance. The match which was a warm-up ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier at home to Greece next month.
Malta looked to have suffered an early setback, as after only two minutes, Cypriot referee Marios Stamatis awarded Switzerland a penalty after Jonathan Caruana was adjudged to have cleared Stephan Lichsteiner’s right-wing cross with his right arm.
Alexander Frei walked toward the penalty spot but he was denied by Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber who pushed the Switzerland’s captain onto the post, much to the relief of the Malta players and fans.
The game was 10 minutes old when Malta created their first chance. Michael Mifsud took made good progress in the inside-right channel before laying the ball back for Andre Schembri whose central shot was blocked by Diego Benaglio.
Malta’s intelligent forays were now causing problems to Switzerland. An excellent through-ball by Andrew Cohen set Mifsud on a run. The Qormi forward dashed past Steve von Bergen who nudged Mifsud off the ball to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the area. Shaun Bajada curled his free-kick past Switzerland’s human barrier but Benaglio fisted the ball over the bar.
On 20 minutes, Haber rushed out of his goal to punch away Hakan Yakin’s cross from a central free-kick. The loose ball dropped to Gokhan Inler who drove his shot into the net but the referee had stopped play for a foul on the Malta goalkeeper.
The Maltese players were quick to transfer the ball forward with Mifsud winning another free-kick in an inviting position after being hauled down by Von Bergen. Cohen’s low shot from the resulting free-kick took a deflection and rolled towards the far post but Benaglio touched the ball around his near post.
Stephan Grichting followed Steve von Bergen into the referee’s book for pulling down Mifsud just outside the box. From the ensuing free-kick, taken by Cohen, the ball sailed towards Fenech at the far post but the Birkirkara midfielder’s effort was deflected away for a corner.
Barely a minute later, Malta should have taken the lead when Schembri passed to Cohen who waltzed his way past a host of defenders before hitting a low strike that sailed past Benaglio but grazed the base of the post.
Switzerland threatened when Yakin’s set-piece cross from the right flew towards the far post but Frei failed to connect with the ball.
Late in the first half, Gokhan Inler put in a good cross towards Valentin Stocker who volleyed over.
The Swiss started the second half in attacking fashion. Frei fired over after being set up by the overlapping Reto Ziegler.
Ten minutes into the second half, Switzerland won a second penalty after Andrei Agius was ruled to have tripped Eren Derdiyok. This time, Inler took the penalty but the result was the same as the outstanding Haber saved his effort to add to Switzerland’s frustration.
With 18 minutes left, Xherdan Shaqiri, a second-half substitute for Switzerland, could havef fired Switzerland ahead when he picked up a loose ball just inside the box but his grounder was wide. Moments later, Streller headed past the near post from Lichsteiner’s right-wing cross and Haber denied Frei from close range.
Malta held off Switzerland’s late pressure to preserve the stalemate, much to the delight of the home fans who applauded the players off the pitch.
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).