FOOTBALL INTERNATIONAL FRINDLY MALTA 0 VS ARMENIA 1
By Chris Cassar

Malta Independent Online
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Malta

Malta suffered a 1-0 defeat against Armenia in yesterday’s friendly
international at Ta’ Qali. It was a low key match which failed to
live to expectations.

To be frank something better was expected from the local lads. It is
true that Fitzel made many experiments from the side that did so well
against Turkey last Saturday but the approach was surely different. The
scenario was completely different as even the supporters deserted the
local heroes, as only some hundreds turned out yesterday to support
the boys in red.

All in all Malta deserved something better from this match were a
draw would have been a fairer result.

However Fitzel used this match to make some tests for the forthcoming
more important matches against Hungary and Moldova.

Mario Muscat defended the Malta goal, with Josef Mifsud romped in
central defender role together with Luke Dimech. Steve Wellman was
deployed on the right with Rodrick Briffa playing in the left back
position.

In midfield Gilbert Agius was supported by Peter Pullicino in the
central role with Frendo and Kevin Sammut on the flanks. Andre Schembri
and Ivan Woods formed Malta’s attacking tandem.

Malta were more aggressive in the opening minutes playing some good
stuff in midfield with Woods giving Voskanyan a very hard time. However
Malta failed to test Felix Hakobyan in the Armenian goal. The Armenians
were subdued in midfield and their forwards Ara Hakobyan and Melkonyan
were nowhere to be seen in the opening stages.

On 20 minutes malta came close for the first time when Sammut
penetrated on the right and from his good cross Ivan Woods headed
over the bar. Two minutes later captain Agius tried his luck from a
freekick with his shot going slightly wide.

Muscat was called in action a minute later saving a dangerous corner
by Melikyan.

Almost against the run of play, Armenia took the lead on 25 minutes
with a goal that could have easily been avoided. A free-kick by
Pachajyan was nodded down by Ara Hakobyan, and the completely unmarked
Voskanyan easily beat Muscat from close range, with the Malta defence
watching with helpless immobility.

Malta’s reaction was immediate and an Agius freek-ick went slightly
over the bar. The goal lifted the Armenians’ morale as they weaved
some good moves forward, with the Maltese apparently still shocked
by the setback.

Dusan Fitzel introduced three new players at the start of the
second. Ian Azzopardi took Steve Wellman’s role in defence, Etienne
Barbara replaced Frendo in midfield with Terence Scerri joining Woods
in attack instead of Schembri.

Sammut found space at the start with some neat dribbling but his shot
went wide. The same Sammut was substituted on the hour by yet another
striker, Andrew Cohen, as Dusan Fitzel tried to give added punch to
Malta’s wanting attack. Twenty minutes from time substitute Lazarian
almost doubled the score direct from the corner flag, with the ball
parried by Muscat against the crossbar.

Malta had a good chance on 75 minutes with substitute Aaron Xuereb
heading high from an ideal position. Six minutes later by far Malta’s
best move with Gilbert Agius splitting the Armenian defence with a
pass towards Barbara, whose cross in the centre was missed by Scerri.

In the last minutes Malta tried desperately to get to level terms,
but our boys were never dangerous. On the other end our defence
passed through some anxious moments, but a second goal would have
been too much.