Brave Malta undone by controversial penalty decisions

UEFA EURO 2024 QUALIFIER (GROUP C)
19.06.2023, Štadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava

UKRAINE…1
MALTA…0
(HT 0-0)

1-0 Viktor Tsygankov, penalty, 72.

Not for the first time in the international scene, the Malta national team fell victim to some controversial referee decisions, as hosts Ukraine could only beat Malta from the penalty spot tonight.  The goal came from a second penalty awarded in the second half.  The first one was awarded after VAR intervention but was missed by star player Yarmolenko, with the second one being given for a non-existing contact between Jean Borg and the same Yarmolenko.

Malta needs to be complimented for their spirited performance after the home match against England last Friday (0-4) must have left some scars. This time however, the team of Michele Marcolini certainly did not deserve to leave the pitch empty handed on a humid night, as there were many positives to report. Over-all, the Maltese kept their more quoted opponents at bay for long stretches, creating various goal scoring opportunities, specially before the break. The injury of Henry Bonello on the stroke of half-time certainly did not help either, but stand-in goalie Matthew Grech did his job well with some excellent saves throughout the second half, an international debut to be proud off.

The match was played in the Slovakian city of Trnava, a place with some good memories for Malta. It was two years ago in the same stadium that the Knights recorded an unexpected two all draw with the Slovaks in a World Cup qualifier, thanks to a header by Alex Satariano and a Luke Gambin bombshell.

Captain Steve Borg made his 75^th appearance for Malta while fellow defender Zach Muscat reached the 60 caps, Malta’s two most experienced players. Jean Borg and Ryan Camenzuli started instead of Ferdinando Apap and Cain Attard, while Yannick Yankam was preferred instead of the injured Bjorn Kristensen in midfield.

Marcolini’s men played an excellent first 45 minutes, played mostly on the Ukrainian half, creating several goalscoring opportunities. Henry Bonello was called into action for the first time after just four minutes, turning a well-hit Vladyslav Varnat attempt into a corner, which turned out to be Ukraine’s only shot on target before the break. Seven minutes later, Bonello’s counterpart Anatoliy Trubin made a routine save on a Jodi Jones grounder, which was the first shot on target for the guests, a clear warning however for things to come.

Malta pressed high and forced the Ukrainians to make mistakes in their own half, threatening the hosts through a few hard-earned corners. On the other side on 16 minutes, Vanat missed from close-range from a Viktor Tsygankov cross, an action which could have meant the opener for Rebrov's team. On the other side on 23 minutes, Teddy Teuma’s attempt was turned into another corner, as there were plenty in the opening half hour for Malta. Two minutes later, Jones had the best opportunity to break the deadlock after another fluent attack on the left wing but the unmarked Notts County striker failed to hit target from close-range.

A few minutes before half-time, Bonello got injured in a clash with Vanat, which immediately looked worrying as the Hamrun Spartans custodian had to receive a lengthy treatment. Eventually, Bonello could not continue, with Sirens goalkeeper Matthew Grech making his international debut. In the end of the seven minutes additional time, Ukraine had a goal disallowed for an offside infringement.

The action-packed first 45 minutes was followed by an Ukrainian rally on Matthew Grech’s fort as five minutes after the re-start, the home-side were awarded a penalty after VAR interference for a hands ball incident in the box. However, Ukraine captain Andriy Yarmolenko drilled the spot kick against the crossbar, which could have meant an undeserved lead. On the hour, Yankam’s attempt after another splendid built-up, was saved by Trubin, Malta’s best chance after the break. On the other side, Grech made two excellent saves on Yarmolenko and substitute Vitaliy Buyalskiy to keep Malta in the match.

With Ukraine now clearly in search for a winner, Malta used the space for some neat counter-attacks, without the desired effect. On 69 minutes however, Ukraine were given a second penalty when Jean Borg allegedly brought down Yarmolenko, a highly controversial decision by the Frenchman in charge which was however surprisingly confirmed through the usual VAR checks. This time it was Tsygankov who claimed the penalty and the Girona striker made no mistake from 11-meters, in what proved to be the decisive goal.

Malta now surged forward, with the risk being caught on the wrong foot as there was Ukranian centre-back Illia Zabarnyi who beat Steve Borg in an aerial duel on 77 minutes from a Tsygankov corner, which just missed target. With three minutes regular time left, Grech made another brave interference on a Artem Dovbyk run inside the box while three minutes into stoppage time, the Sirens shot stopper did again well to punch away a Tsygankov scorcher. Substitutes Satariano, Shaun Dimech and Jurgen Degabriele worked hard up front to force out an equaliser, unfortunately without being rewarded

This match means the end of a long 2022/23 season for most players, with the next qualifier being planned on 12^th September at home against North Macedonia. Malta played nine games in total during the season, with highlights being the victories at home against Israel (2-1) and away in Luxembourg (0-1) earlier this month, while Greece was held to a prestigious two all draw at Ta' Qali in November. 

Ukraine
Anatoliy Trubin, Yukhym Konoplya, Serhiy Kryvtsov, Illia Zabarnyi, Mykola Matviyenko (Vitaliy Mykolenko 46), Taras Stepanenko, Ruslan Malinovskyi (Vitaliy Buyalskiy 63), Andriy Yarmolenko (Serhiy Sidorchuk 81), Viktor Tsygankov (Oleksandr Svatok 90+5),  Georgiy Sudakov, Vladyslav Vanat (Artem Dovbyk 63).
Coach: Serhiy Rebrov

Malta
Henry Bonello (Matthew Grech 45+3), Jean Borg, Steve Borg, Zach Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli, Joseph Mbong (Jurgen Degabriele 87), Matthew Guillaumier, Yannick Yankam, Teddy Teuma (Jake Grech 87), Jodi Jones (Shaun Dimech 62), Kyrian Nwoko (Alex Satariano 46).
Coach: Michele Marcolini


Referee: Ruddy Buquet (France)

Yellow cards: Vanat, Malinovskiy (U); J.Borg, S.Borg (M).

Images copyright by Domenic Aquilina