EC QUALIFICATION: MALTA 0-1 ITALY October 14, 2014, 02:45, TaQali National Stadium, TaQali Referee: O. Hațegan LIVE COMMENTARY Until next time, goodbye! A win is a win, even if Italy did decide to sit back and defend their lead in the second half when they could have gone on to further it when they had a one-man advantage. Malta tried their hardest but were hurt badly by Mifsuds red card in the first half, and even when Italys numerical advantage was wiped out by Bonuccis sending off in the second period they were still unable to match the power and discipline of the Italy defensive line, who were fantastic throughout. As a result, Italy leave Ta Qali National Stadium worthy winners, now with three wins out of three in the European Championship qualifying round. FULL-TIME: MALTA 0-1 ITALY 90 + 3 Substitution Clayton Fallia Steven Bezzina 90 + 1 Giovinco hits the post! Completely against the run of play, Italy suddenly break away and Giovinco fires a great shot from the edge of the penalty area that beats Hogg but ends up ricocheting off the far post. 90 The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time. 89 It looks as if its going to be a slow and, quite frankly, dull end to what has been an exciting and interesting game as Italy continue to pass the ball around near the halfway line. 87 Again, Malta have reverted to putting all nine outfield players behind the ball as Italy comfortably pass the ball around them in an attempt to waste time as we head towards the 90 minute mark. 85 Substitution André Schembri by Andrew Cohen 85 Malta are passing the ball around in their own half of the pitch, unable to find a red shirt that isnt completely swamped by blue ones. Once again, their attack breaks down and Italy regain possession. 83 Giovinco finds himself with the ball at his feet just outside of the Malta penalty area but ends up slipping, gifting possession back to Malta, who are desperately trying to find a way into Italys half of the pitch after spending the majority of the game camped inside their own. 81 After three failed Italy attacks, Malta are now trying to push forward in an attempt to find a late equalising goal, but they are unable to make it out of their own half of the pitch, allowing Italy the chance to regain possession once again. 79 Italy are enjoying a lot of possession but are still finding it difficult to penetrate Maltas impressive back line. Candreva tries to set up a chance with a cross from the right wing but Camilleri is there to clear the danger before it is able to meet Aquilani. 77 The feel of the game has totally changed after Bonuccis red card. Italy now look content to sit back for the rest of the game and defend their one-goal lead instead of pushing for a second goal, as defender Ogbonna comes on to replace Pelle. 76 Substitution Graziano Pellè by Angelo Ogbonna 75 Failla shoots from the resulting set-piece and his attempt seems to hit a hand before finding its way towards Buffon. The Malta players appeal for another free-kick but the referee shakes his head and waves play on. 73 Red Card Leonardo Bonucci RED CARD! Schembri breaks away on a quick counter-attack for Malta through the middle of the Italy back line and darts towards goal before being brought crashing to the ground by Bonucci. The contact looked minimal, but the referee took no time at all reaching for the red card. 72 Substitution John Mintoff by C. Gatt Baldacchino 71 Pasqual curls the resulting set-piece towards the edge of the six-yard box where it almost meets Pelle, but the Southampton striker ends up pushing Zach Muscat to the ground in an attempt to reach the ball, earning Malta a free-kick. 70 Giovinco again makes a menace of himself in the Malta penalty area before firing a shot towards goal that ends up taking a slight deflection that sends it out for a corner. 69 Malta break away on a rare forage into the Italy half of the pitch but Mintoffs attempted pass is overhit and ends up rolling harmlessly to Buffon, who then kickstarts another Italy attack. 67 Giovinco comes on for Immobile and immediately finds himself in the thick of the action, twisting around Rowen Muscat before firing a shot from 35 yards out that only just clears the crossbar. 65 Substitution Ciro Immobile by Sebastian Giovinco 65 Malta have their backs against the wall at the moment. Italy are throwing as many men forward as possible, with every blue shirt camped inside the hosts half of the pitch, but the Malta back line, which now consists of six players, is refusing to allow them to find a way through. 63 Aquilani pushes forward and curls a great cross towards the penalty spot, where it finds Pelle, who attempts a first-time half-volley. He completely misses the ball, however, and the ball bounces up off his arm, resulting in another free-kick for Malta. 61 Aquilani almost immediately dives into Schembri midway inside the Malta half of the pitch, resulting in a free-kick for the hosts after a period of possession for Italy that looked as if it was going to result in a chance on goal for the visitors. 59 Substitution Alessandro Florenzi by Alberto Aquilani 59 Italy are sending ball after ball into the Malta penalty area in an attempt to break the hosts resolute back line, but so far each attempt has easily been dealt with by Hogg. 57 It looks as if Aquilani is getting ready on the touchline and is about to be introduced after a difficult 10 minutes for Italy. 55 Fantastic play again by Verratti, but this time his through-ball towards Florenzi is slightly overhit and just misses the Roma midfielders outstretched foot. 53 Great chance for Immobile! Verratti sends a beautiful cross into the heart of the Malta box that meets the head of the Borussia Dortmund striker but his effort is poor and ends up going straight into Hoggs hands. 51 Pelle receives a lovely chipped pass from Candreva and chests the ball down well on the edge of the Malta box to send it into the path of Immobile, who fires towards goal from 20 yards out. However, his shot is wild and ends up flying well wide of its intended target. 49 Patient build-up play by Italy again ends up with the ball on the right wing, but this time their attack is brought to an end by Camilleri, who brings down Immobile from behind on the edge of the penalty area. No free-kick is given, however, and play continues. 47 Italy immediately break away down the right flank where Candreva sends a fantastic cross-cum-shot towards goal that ends up bouncing off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal-kick. 46 And were underway once again! The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any changes during the break. Despite Italy being the better of the two sides and, as a result, deservedly going ahead through a scrappy Pelle goal in the 23rd minute, Malta have played extremely well in the opening 45 minutes. Camilleri has defended resolutely, whilst Failla has looked like a threat when his side break away on quick counter-attacks. However, Mifsuds red card has hit them hard, and its difficult to see the hosts finding a way back into the game with one less body on the pitch. HALF-TIME: MALTA 0-1 ITALY 45 The fourth official has indicated that there will be one minute of added time. 44 Italy push forward and earn themselves a corner after good defending by Fallia. Its whipped into the box by Pasqual and meets the head of Pelle, but hes unable to send his effort on target and instead ends up clearing the goal by some distance. 43 Yellow Card Matteo Darmian 42 Failla regains possession for Malta on the edge of his own penalty area and breaks away on a quick counter-attack down the left wing. However, his run forward is brought to a painful end by Darmian, who dives in and brings him to the ground with a crunching tackle near the halfway line, resulting in a yellow card for the Italy defender. 41 Yellow Card Roderick Briffa 40 Again, Malta push forward only to find their attack brought to an end by a poor challenge from an Italy player. This time its Verratti on Mintoff, and Malta are awarded a free-kick 20 yards out, but Failla fails to make it count and ends up firing his shot wide of the near post. 38 After a long period of defending, Malta try to break away on a quick counter-attack through Schembri, but its brought to a premature end by Pasqual, who brings down the striker with a cynical challenge midway inside the Malta half of the pitch. 36 Pelle tries to hold up the ball on the edge of Malta penalty area but ends up fouling Zach Muscat in the process, resulting in a free-kick for the hosts. 34 Its all Italy at the moment as they push as many bodies forward as possible in an attempt to double their lead before half-time. 32 Failla shoots from the resulting set-piece but his effort ends up flying just wide of Buffons left post. 31 Tempers are flaring! This time, its Verratti who flies into Camilleri, but the Italy midfielder is only given a stern talking to by the referee, who then awards Malta a free-kick 35 yards out. 29 After a slight scuffle on the right wing, Malta are awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Its whipped in towards the box but fails to beat the first man and Italy are easily able to clear the ball back up the pitch. 27 Red Card Michael Mifsud RED CARD! Mifsud has been shown a straight red card by referee Ovidiu Hategan after crashing into Florenzi with his studs showing. The home crowd are incredibly angry but the Romanian referee was in no doubt that the Malta captain had to go. 25 Italy push forward quickly in an attempt to find a second goal, but Pelle is unable to control a wild lofted ball on the edge of the penalty area and Malta are able to regain possession. 23 Goal Graziano Pellè GOAL! Pelle scores on his debut! Italy earn themselves a corner, which is whipped in towards the near post by Pasqual. It meets the head of Bonucci and his effort is saved on the line by Hogg, but a scramble ensues and the Southampton striker steps in to tap the ball into the back of the net from a few yards out. 22 Great build-up play from Italy ends up with Pelle on the edge of the Malta box, and, with his back to goal, he decides to chest the ball down into the path of Marchisio, who unleashes a fierce low shot that is saved well by Hogg. 20 And now Chiellini hits the crossbar! The resulting set-piece is fired in by Pasqual, who again wonderfully finds the head of a team-mate. This time its Chiellini, who also sees his effort ricochet off the crossbar. 19 Pelle hits the crossbar! Pasqual curls a beautiful cross into the Malta penalty area from the left wing that perfectly meets the head of Pelle, but his effort ends up thumping off the crossbar before being cleared out for a corner. 17 The hosts decide to take the corner short but its easily snuffed out by Verratti, who is then brought down from behind, resulting in a free-kick for Italy. 16 Great chance for Malta! After poor defending from Italy, Fallia unleashes a rocket of a shot from just outside of the penalty area that takes a slight deflection and rolls just wide of the far post, earning his side their first corner of the game. 15 Candreva again finds himself with the ball on the right wing before firing a cross into the heart of the Malta penalty area, but its too near to Hogg and the goalkeeper is easily able to collect the ball. 13 Great defending by Malta forces Candreva into a tight corner near the corner flag on the right flank, and after failing to find a way past Camilleri and Failla the Lazio midfielder is forced to fire a hopeful cross that ends up flying out for a goal-kick. 11 Malta are enjoying a nice spell of possession at the moment, but they are finding it difficult to find a way past a strong and well-disciplined Italy defensive line. 9 Verrati picks up the ball near the halfway line and sends a long through-ball into the path of Immobile, 7 Malta push forward and put Chiellini under pressure, forcing him to put the ball out of play midway inside the Italy half of the pitch. The resulting throw-in fails to result in a chance on goal for the hosts, however, and the visitors comfortably regain possession. 6 Pasqual finds himself in acres of space down the left wing and sets himself up before firing a lovely cross into the centre of the box, but Camilleri is there to cut out the danger and deflect the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper Hogg. 4 Lovely play between Pelle and Immobile just outside of the Malta penalty area allows Florenzi to get a shot away from 20 yards out, but his effort is mishit and ends up flying well wide of the goal. 2 Italy immediately steal the ball off Malta and break away on a swift early attack. Candreva darts down the right flank before sending a lofted pass towards Immobile, who turns on the edge of the penalty area before firing a half-volleyed shot that bounces just wide of the far post. 1 And were off! Malta get us underway, kicking from left to right. The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just five minutes to go until kick-off. Meanwhile, Antionio Conte has made four changes to the side that started last weeks narrow win at home to Azerbaijan, with Andrea Ranocchia, Mattia De Sciglio, Andrea Pirlo and Simone Zaza all dropping out of the starting 11 to be replaced by Antonio Candreva, Marco Verratti, Manuel Pasqual and Graziano Pelle, the latter of whom is set to make his international debut tonight after impressing for Southampton so far this season. Malta boss Pietro Ghedin has decided to make just one change to the side that lost 3-0 against Norway on Friday evening, with John Mintoff coming in for Ryan Fenech, who drops to the substitutes bench. Italy substitutes: Ogbonna, Zaza, Giovinco, Sirigu, Parolo, Poli, Perin, De Sciglio, Destro, Aquilani, Pirlo. Italy XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Darmian, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, Florenzi, Verratti, Marchisio, Pasqual; Immobile, Pelle. Malta substitutes: Bezzina, R. Fenech, Cohen, Haber, Pisani, T. Vella, Kristensen, Grioli, Farrugia, Gatt Baldacchino, Scicluna, N. Vella. Malta XI (3-5-2): Hogg; Z. Muscat, Agius, Camilleri; Mintoff, Briffa, R. Muscat, Fenech, Failla; Mifsud, Schembri. Theres just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so lets have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening... As expected, Malta, arguably the minnows of Group H, have struggled in their opening two games, losing 3-0 at home to Norway on Friday and 2-0 away to current group leaders Croatia at the start of last month. As a result, they head into tonights clash with only one win (a narrow 3-2 victory at home to the Faroe Islands in November 2013) in their last 11 games. Although Italy currently sit in second place in Group H with two wins from their opening two qualifying clashes, they were made to work for their most recent victory by a strong and determined Azerbaijan side in Palermo on Friday evening, with all three of the games goals - including an own-goal - being scored by Giorgio Chiellini in a nervy night for the 2012 European Championship runners-up. However, tonights clash presents the Azzurri with a great opportunity to finish the weeks international action with another victory against a side that have never beaten them in a competitive game. Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of todays European Championship qualifying game between Malta and Italy. My name is Ben Cullimore and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action from Ta Qali National Stadium.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 06:10:08 +0000
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