MALTA EYE POSITIVE RESULT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN

After almost three months since our national team’s last home match against Bulgaria in a Euro qualifier Group H encounter, Malta’s next home commitment will be against Azerbaijan on 6 September at Ta’ Qali National Stadium, a clash preceded by the away commitment against Italy three days earlier.   The Azeris, who earned three out of their four points when they beat Malta 2-0 in Azerbaijan last March, will be after a repeat success against Pietro Ghedin’s team to increase their tally to seven points. On their part Malta will eye a positive result, possibly to equal their opponents on points and as a consequence do better than in their previous Euro qualifiers campaign when they picked only a single point in their drawn match against Georgia. Ghedin is aware of the task ahead against a team that obtained satisfactory results in most of their matches except the 6-0 drubbing away to Croatia. But as has been the case in several group qualifiers he will always have his players on a positive mindset. It is hoped that this mentality will be an ace card and that Malta will rise to the occasion and provide the local followers of football with something to cheer about on matchday reminiscent of the excellent 5-0 victory against the Azeris in 1994 and their two subsequent successes. This will be Malta’s seventh group outing with the kick-off scheduled for 18.00 hrs.  PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS 19-Apr-94MALTAvs Azerbaijan5-0F06-Feb-00MALTAvs Azerbaijan3-0RT17-Apr-02MALTAvs Azerbaijan1-0F14-Aug-13Azerbaijan vs MALTA3-0F29-Mar-15Azerbaijan vs MALTA2-0EC  (EC)        -   European Championship Qualification Match(WC)      -   World Cup Qualification Match(RT)        -   Rothmans Tournament(F)           -   Friendly Match