MALTA            0

ROMANIA       4

Puscas 7, 30

Chipchiu 34

Man 90

Romania gave the Malta national team a reality check as the Eastern Europeans hit four goals without reply to coast to a comfortable victory at the National Stadium.

George Puscas was the architect behind Malta's downfall as the Palermo striker grabbed a well-taken brace that completely took the fight out of the Malta national team and put his team to an important victory that lifted them to second-place in the standings on seven points, level with Sweden.

Ray Farrugia opted for a change in his team tactical module as he switched from a 5-3-2 formation to 4-2-3-1 as Joseph Zerafa came into the side to fill as right back while Paul Fenech partnered Rowen Muscat just infront of the four-man defence. Luke Montebello and Jake Grech were the two players who were forced to settle with a place on the bench.

Malta started brightly, pushing the Romanians into their own half and forcing two early corners. From one of these corners, Andrei Agius found himself in ample of space but scuffed his effort with the ball finishing over.

However, that bright opening was tampered with a Romania goal after seven minutes.

Bancu sped clear on the left and his cross found Puscas completely unmarked as the Inter forward somewhat managed to divert the ball past Henry Bonello.

Buoyed by this early opener, the Romanians were happy to leave the initiative to the hosts and try and catch them with swift raids.

On 17 minutes, the visitors came close to a second when Keseru’s throughball played in Puscas and the forward turned past Bonello but luckily for the Maltese his effort came off the upright.

Malta had a great chance to equalise two minutes later when in a swift counter attack Corbalan opted to go alone instead of serving the sprinting Mbong or Effiong and his shot was too central to trouble Ciprian Tatarusanu.

Romania’s lightning passing football was causing all sorts of problems to the Malta defence and it was no surprise that on the half hour the Romanians struck again.

It was the attacking tandem of Keseriu and Puscas who did all the damage. Puscas fed Keseriu on the edge of the area and the latter quickly played in his strike partner who slid the ball past Bonello.

There was more misery in store for the national team as on 34 minutes the Romanians added a third. Alexandru Chipciu picked up the ball on the edge of the area and hit a delightful curling drive that flew into the top corner of the net.

To their merit, the Maltese still continued to push forward and four minutes later Effiong traded the ball with Andrei Agius but the Balzan forward saw his curling drive just miss the upright.

With three goals to the good, the Romanians somewhat took their foot off the pedal as they looked to administer their advantage.

Malta had another good opportunity to pull a goal back on 56 minutes when Gambin put Effiong clear inside the area but the Malta striker blasted the ball just wide.

At the other end, Bonello produced a fine one-handed save to push away Keseriu’s inswinger.

Just before the hour mark, Farrugia withdrew the tiring Fenech and roped in Jake Grech as he looked to inject fresh legs to his team’s engine room.

But it was Romania who almost added a fourth goal when Puskas stormed into the area but was denied from a hat-trick by an outstretched arm of Bonello.

The Malta goalkeeper again came to the team’s rescue on 68 minutes when he denied substitute Dennis Man from close in while shortly afterwards Ravzan Marin’s thumping drive came off the bar.

The only sombre note for the Romanians came ten minutes from time when they were reduced to ten men when Alexandru Chipciu was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

But despite their numerical disadvantage, the Romanians still added a fourth goal when in a quick break Man slid the ball past Bonello to complete a convincing victory.