Courtesy: Dive.com

Malta succumbs to third defeat in futsal baptism

by Chris Galea, di-ve sports


Malta - Georgia 2-5

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Malta's baptism on the international scene in futsal competitions was all but promising, as the Maltese team succumbed to the third loss in as many games in the preliminary qualification round to the UEFA Futsal Championship for Nations.

Following the heavy losses against Cyprus (1-7) and Kazakhstan (0-13), Malta once again showed they lack in experience as they were thoroughly beaten by Georgia 5-2. The result left Malta in bottom place with no points, with only three goals in favour and 25 goals against.

Although the result itself was not encouraging, the game against Georgia provided positive signs of recovery as the Maltese managed to hold heads with their opponents, exert a good amount of pressure and create a number of opportunities for long stints of the game.

Should the Maltese learn from their experience, remove the lapses in concentration and minimise on the mistakes committed -- particularly in passing and finishing -- the future might reserve brighter prospects.

Determined Malta not enough
Reminiscent of their humiliating defeats incurred in their previous two games, Malta held their concentration high and adopted a cautious approach to the game, defending stubbornly but offending whenever possible.

Great saves by Vassallo meant that the locals did not concede that early goal that had dealt a deadly blow to their morale in the previous outings, and in turn this encouraged the Maltese who managed to create a string of opportunities.

Georgia however found the goal against the run of play, as TITLADZE took perfect advantage of the space he was allowed and fired in the top corner.

Although the Maltese were not disheartened by the goal and kept pushing forward, it was Georgia who found the net again through TITLADZE, who practically repeated the same action that had given his side the lead.

A few minutes later, silly mistakes were haunting Malta again as an erroneous pass in attack provided TSERETELI a one-on-one chance against the keeper and the Georgian had no difficulty in slotting past the onrushing Vassallo.

Vassallo, who had been the hero in many antics, had a mishap when he gifted the Georgians their fourth goal. An innocuous long-range effort by ASATIANI passed between his legs and rolled over the line, leaving the Georgian player incredulous at his luck.

Georgia pushed on the accelerator at the resumption of hostilities after half-time and immediately found the net through BOKERIA, who was allowed to control a cross-shot, turn and fire in between the keeper's legs a metre away from the goal line.

Although the result would not inspire hopes of a comeback not even among the most optimist, the crowd exploded in joy when ELLUL SULLIVAN converted a Gatt through-ball with an angled shot in the bottom corner.

The goal gave a breath of life to the approximately 200 supporters at the Corradino Pavillion, who starting shouting and cheering on the Maltese players. The latter obliged and were close to scoring again on a number of occasions, but lacked either in finishing or in giving the final pass.

Portelli had the chance to heat up the last few minutes of the game when he hit the side-netting with an empty net at his mercy just after GATT had scored Malta's second goal following a swift counter-attack.

The game ended 5-2 for the Georgians, but the character showed by the Maltese in the final minutes of the game shed a ray of light on a possible improvement, which however can only take place with a lot of hard work.

The start of the game had been delayed from the scheduled 1600CET due to a power failure prior to the game between Kazakhstan and Cyprus, which ended 6-3 and meant that Kazakhstan topped the group on full points.

Kazakhstan thus automatically qualified for the main qualifying round and will be playing in Group E, which comprises hosts Croatia, the Czech Republic and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On their part, Cyprus qualified as one of the two best second-placed teams and will be facing current holders and hosts Spain, Poland and Macedonia in Group C.

Formations:

Malta: Vassallo, Bilocca (c), Borg, Magro, Cutajar; Ellul Sullivan, Bray, Bugeja, Caruana, Gatt, Gialanze, Portelli.

Georgia: Zakaidze (c), Chaladze, Titladze, Tsereteli, Sarkisian; Asatiani, Dzabiradze, Tsnobiladze, Bokeria, Surmava, Shelegia, Devdariani.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com