Ilicic on a double and efficient Slovenia punishes a sloppy Malta
MALTA 0
SLOVENIA 4
Ilicic 28, 60
Sporar 49; Sesko 67
Malta
H. Bonello, K. Shaw, J. Mbong (68 A. Magri Overend), L. Montebello (80 J. Degabriele), S. Pisani (68 T. Caruana), P. Mbong (56 A. Satariano), E Pepe, T. Teuma, C. Attard, S. Dimech (56 L. Gambin), Z. Muscat.
Slovenia
J. Oblak, J. Balkovec, J. Ilicic (71 L. Zahovic), S. Lovric (70 J. Stankovic), A. Sporar (61 B. Sesko), J. Kurtic (82 T. Elsnik), M. Mevlja, Z. Karnicnik, B. Verbic (61 D. Crnigoj), A. Cerin.
Referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Greece).
Yellow cards J. Mbong, Satariano.
The Malta national team was given a reality check by the upper side of Slovenia after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the National Stadium last night.
For Devis Mangia’s team this was their longest defeat in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and their capitulation last night was the result of a disjointed effort on the part of the home side which made them pay for a number. of defensive errors by an efficient Slovenian side that kept alive their hopes of gaining the first two places in Group H.
The return of Josip Ilicic was the brains behind Slovenia’s dominant display yesterday as the Atalanta midfielder scored a good feat that put his team on their way to a comfortable victory that lifted them to third place in the standings. group on 10 points, to remain six points behind Russia ahead of their direct clash at home to Russia on Monday.
For the Maltese team, the defeat against Slovenia should serve as an eye opener for the players before their important confrontation against Cyprus next week which will see the team without two main players in Joseph Mbong and Alex Satariano who will be suspended after catching a booking last night.
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