LUXEMBOURG         3

V. Thill 20; Sinani 58

Moreira 78

MALTA            0

LUXEMBOURG

A. Moris, L. Jans, S. Korac, D. Carlson, F. Bohnert (57 E. Mahmutovic), M. Olesen (68 Y. Borges Martins), C. Martins, L. Barreiro (57 S. Thill), V. Thill (68 T. Moreira), A. Dardari (78 J. Videira), D. Sinani.

MALTA

H. Bonello, R. Camenzuli, G. Mentz, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong, P. Mbong (62 K. Eworum), I. Cardona, E. Pepe (62 E. Pepe), I. Chouaref (82 A. Magri Overend), Z. Muscat (74 M. Beerman), A. Satariano.

Referee Daniel Siebert.

Yellow cards Sinani, J. Mbong, Olesen, Bohnert.

Missed penalty: Sinani (L) 45.

It was a convincing victory for Luxembourg who showed all their class as they struck the killer blows when it mattered most to complete a convincing 5-0 aggregate win.

For Malta, it was a disappointing outcome to a match that had started with a lot of promise as the team created the better chances early on, but their failure to put away their opportunities again came back to haunt them.

In fact, Luxembourg struck with their first attempt on goal and could have doubled their advantage just before the break when they were awarded a penalty but Henry Bonello had other plans when he saved Sinani’s effort from the spot.

But Luxembourg were not to be denied and they all but wrapped up their qualification with a second goal scored by Sinani.

Joseph Mbong’s second-half dismissal further compounded the visitors and Luxembourg went on to add a third goal to the delight of their fans.

The result was a timely reality check on the national team’s standing on the international scene, as it’s clear that there needs to be a careful analysis of the situation and see how we can raise the level of the team with a long-term strategy.

Now, Malta face the prospect of having to play another campaign in League D, which gets under way from September, where they will be up against Andorra and Gibraltar, and promotion cannot be missed given the level of opposition.

Gżira United defender Gabriel Mentz was back in the starting XI as he replaced Kurt Shaw, who was dropped to the bench.

Joseph Mbong was back from suspension and filled the void left by Teddy Teuma, who was forced to skip the match due to a calf injury.

Malta started brightly, and they came close to take an early lead after eight minutes.

Joseph Mbong’s inswinging cross found Ilyas Chouaref, who did well to adjust his body, and his half volley was brilliantly pushed away by Luxembourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris.

However, it was Luxembourg who took the lead on 20 minutes in their first shot on target through a familiar face.

Vincent Thill, who had put Luxembourg ahead in Thursday’s first leg, again did the damage when he was brilliantly picked by Daniel Sinani and he cooly slammed the ball past goalkeeper Henry Bonello.

Malta tried to respond and on 25 minutes, Camenzuli picked Irvin Cardona at the near post but the France-based forward headed over.

To their merit, the Maltese players kept pushing and on 33 minutes, Zach Muscat connected to a short clearance, but his volley finished just over.

A minute later, the hard-working Chouaref tried his luck from a distance, but his shot was saved by Moris.

Still, it was Luxembourg who had the chance to put the tie beyond Malta’s reach when they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time.

Joseph Mbong was anticipated by Barreiro inside the area, and the Ħamrun Spartans winger tripped the Luxembourg midfielder.
The referee immediately ordered a penalty, but from the spot, Sinani saw his shot saved by Bonello.

After the break, De Leo roped in Juan Corbalan for Ryan Camenzuli, who was nursing a foot injury.

The Maltese kept pushing, and on 48 minutes, Moris had to be alert to palm away Alex Satariano’s inswinger from a free-kick.

But that was as good as it got, as in their next chance, Luxembourg all but killed off the tie.

Barreiro showed great class to backheel the ball into the path of Sinani, who rounded Bonello before depositing the ball into an empty net.

That goal hit the Maltese hard, and De Leo tried to add more firepower with the introduction of Keyon Ewurum instead of Paul Mbong, while Jean Borg came on for Pepe.

However, there was more misery for Malta as Joseph Mbong was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Sebastian Thill and was dismissed.

Ewurum tried to leave his mark, and on 65 minutes, he sped inside the area but was denied by Moris.

Still, it was Luxembourg who added a third goal.

Substitute, who had just replaced Vincent Thill, struck with his first touch when he was put through by Seid Korac and blasted the ball past Bonello.

Malta should have pulled a goal back a minute from time when Ewurum sped through on the left and his low cross was met by fellow substitute Adam Magri Overend, who was denied by Moris and from the rebound the Sliema wingback again found the Luxembourg keeper alert to push away.