The Maltese national team on Monday suffered a cruel loss against a strong Polish side, following up on its splendid win in Helsinki with a brave performance which, however, was not enough to earn at least another point.
Malta fought back inch by inch, twice came from behind, showed tremendous fight, and at many moments looked like the better team.
Malta started confidently, with dangerous chances for both sides. The Maltese remained resilient, played intelligently on the counter, and even won several midfield battles throughout the match.
After just two minutes, Slisz tried his luck from outside the box, but Bonello saved well. Malta responded immediately with a counterattack, earning a promising freekick from a foul on Teuma. The freekick from the left side was comfortably saved by Dragowski.
In the 18th minute, Poland threatened down the left as Atalanta wing-midfielder Zalewski beat Shaw and shot from the edge of the box, sending the ball just wide.
Poland took the lead in the 31st minute when captain Robert Lewandowski headed home from a Zielinski freekick.
Malta reacted brilliantly. In the 36th minute, Chouaref produced a superb run on the left, beating Wszolek and sending a high cross toward Mbong. His initial effort was saved twice by Dragowski, but the ball eventually fell to Irvin Cardona, who poked it in, sending the National Stadium into wild celebration.
In the 41st minute, midfielder Satariano dribbled past two players cutting inside, but his left-footed shot was too central and easily saved.
The first half ended 1-1.
Malta were unlucky to concede in the 59th minute when Wszolek finished from close range after Swiderski’s first effort fell kindly for Poland, restoring their lead.
But the Maltese refused to give up. Two minutes later, midfielder Teddy Teuma broke through the middle and played a filtering pass to Chouaref, who slipped inside the box and couldn’t finish.
Poland thought they had scored a third through Swiderski, but after a VAR review, referee Pojac awarded Malta a penalty for an earlier foul on Chouaref inside the box.
Teddy Teuma stepped up confidently and buried the penalty, making it 2-2 as the stadium erupted for the second time. Malta continued to grow into the game, playing superb football and improving with every minute.
But heartbreak struck in the 84th minute when Piotr Zielinski fired in from outside the box, leaving Malta to suffer an extremely harsh defeat despite an excellent performance.
Photo: Malta Football Association/Facebook