Experimental Malta beaten by Armenia in opening match

by SILVIO VELLA

MALTA 0

ARMENIA 1

Malta: M. Muscat, S. Bajada, B. Said, A. Xuereb, G.
Agius (S. Wellman), R. Briffa, E. Barbara (P.
Pullicino), I. Woods (A. Cohen), G. Mallia (C.
Frendo), R. Fenech (G. Sciberras), R. Bajada (K.
Scicluna)

Armenia: M. Azizyan, K. Dokhoyan, R. Arzumanyan, A.
Tadeosyan (H. Mkhitaryan), A. Lazarian, A. Arakelyan
(K. Alexanyan), A. Voskanyan, L. Pachayvan (K.
Lazarian), V. Minasyan, G. Ghazaryan, (A. Hakobyan)
S. Melkonyan (N.Sahakyan)

Referee: M. Porisson (Iceland) Asst.refs: K. Borg, A.
Camilleri 4th official: A. Kulbacov

Scorers: A. Hakobyan

Malta did not make the best of starts to this 14th
edition of the International Tournament, going down to
modest Armenia with a goal conceded in the second
half, after a promising opening and a creditable first
half.

The match also failed to attract the crowds at Ta’
Qali, perhaps because of the Carnival festivities in
Valletta, and even the noisy and colourful support of
the Southend Core was missing, with the game being
played against a near-silent backdrop.

Truly, Malta was not at full strength, fielding some
new and other inexperienced faces on this first of a
three-day tournament, but yesterday our national team
lacked the required aggression and punch up front to
penetrate the opponents’defence although going close
on some occasions. They also appeared short of
creative options, especially after falling behind.

Coach Fitzel, as promised, effected no fewer than six
substitutions, putting in all players on the bench,
except reserve keeper Hogg. That may have unbalanced
tactics in the second half as Malta produced a better
performance in the first 45 minutes.

Malta’s experimental side, was bereft of our
foreign-based players and included two debutants in
the first half, Hamrun’s Ryan Fenech and Marsaxlokk’s
Shaun Bajada. While the former played in midfield,
alongside George Mallia, Ivan Woods and Roderick
Bajada, Shaun Bajada was deployed as one of the back
four on the left. Sliema’s Roderick Briffa played as
full back on the right with Aaron Xuereb, making only
his third international appearance, flanking Brian
Said as the two central defenders.

Captain Gilbert Agius played in a deep unusual
position, in front of the defence, while Etienne
Barbara was Malta’s only forward.

The Maltese played some good flowing football and
looked good with possession for the first 45 minutes,
during which they traded equal punches with their
opponents although real goalmouth action remained at a
premium for a tepid first half hour.

Barbara showed mobility with his runs up front but
found little support as he was left to plough a lone
furrow.

The first shot on target came just past the half hour
as Roderick Bajada connected on Barbara’s cross but
the goalkeeper saved well.

Shortly after, another Agius effort earned Malta a
corner and then Barbara fell when he came in contact
with Arakelyan inside the area but the referee was not
impressed.

With half time looming, Armenia grew dangerous.
Pachajyan foraged down the right flank and sent a
teasing cross which Agius blocked and keeper Muscat
had to rush out to intercept the high ball before
Ghazaryan could connect. And on the stroke of
halftime, Melkonyan’s shot clipped the bar.

Malta introduced Cohen and Frendo for Woods and Mallia
at the start of the second half. Before the hour,
Fenech was clear, capitalising on an opponent’s slip
but instead of going for goal himself he opted to pass
the ball and the chance went to waste.

A Barbara effort took a deflection into a corner as
Malta kept up the initiative against organised
opponents, who improved in the second half.

On 69 minutes, Malta suffered a setback. Melkonyan,
one of Armenia’s best players, started the movement
which led to Armenia’s goal as he went inside the
Malta area with ease. Muscat rushed out to block at
his feet, lost the ball and after substitute
Hakobyan’s first effort was blocked by Bajada, he
picked the rebound and placed the ball beyond Muscat’s
reach.

Malta looked shell shocked and the goal visibly sapped
the wind out of their sails.

However they still summoned some effort to move
forward, after Barbara and Agius had gone out and
Malta continued to make more substitutions, although
they lacked genuine conviction.

After substitute Gareth Sciberras put a header off
target, Malta came closest to drawing level in the
late stages when Armenia looked uncomfortable on some
Malta pressure and conceded a corner, kicked by Frendo
and headed narrowly wide by another substitute,
Kenneth Scicluna.

But by then, the early optimism had dissipated well
before the floodlights were turned off at Ta’ Qali as
Malta were unable to avoid defeat.