National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10302 (Terracing: 7727, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Gheorghe Hagi started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Italy's Daniele Cagnetta played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Clyde Cornelisse in the 6th minute of play. In the 8th minute Malta were awarded a corner. Andrea Glynn went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Italy's goalie and right to Leo Incorvaia. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Italy's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Daniele Cagnetta took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Johnny Marchese, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 8 minutes of play, Malta's Johnny Marchese made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Daniele Cagnetta was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Gheorghe Hagi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Evan Worley got free with Daniele Cagnetta in the 14th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Malta's Marcel Cachia Caruana played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gheorghe Hagi in the 15th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Malta's Andrea Glynn got a free kick in the 20th minute. Daniele Cagnetta showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Clyde Cornelisse in the 25th minute of the match. Daniele Cagnetta made an important save on a dangerous shot by Evan Worley in the 26th minute. If Gheorghe Hagi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Clayton Fabri kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. Malta's Marcel Cachia Caruana played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gheorghe Hagi in the 36th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Italy's zone, Evan Worley stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Daniele Cagnetta came out of the goal and Evan Worley tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 40th minute, Gheorghe Hagi left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Italy fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. In the 45th minute Clyde Cornelisse shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Daniele Cagnetta saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.

Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Evan Worley in the 53rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Daniele Cagnetta prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Italy's Daniele Cagnetta played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Evan Worley in the 55th minute of play. Fausto Munno's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marcel Cachia Caruana read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 58th minute of play. Marcel Cachia Caruana showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gheorghe Hagi, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. 63 minutes into the match, Malta's goal looked a bit too open when Gheorghe Hagi came free, but Marcel Cachia Caruana reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Daniele Cagnetta showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Clyde Cornelisse, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. When the match had gone on for 66 minutes, Gheorghe Hagi put it in 1-2 from a short distance just to the right of Marcel Cachia Caruana. Italy made a substitution. Federico Allegretti replaced Fortunato Vettori. Italy's Edmondo Toto was substituted for Gheorghe Hagi. Marcel Cachia Caruana showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Anthony Antonelli, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. Clyde Cornelisse fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Daniele Cagnetta having to interfere. Edmondo Toto could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 78th minute of the match, but Marcel Cachia Caruana made a huge save. Daniele Cagnetta made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Clyde Cornelisse in the 79th minute of play. In the 85th minute, Kenneth Belli made a precise shot to the right of Daniele Cagnetta. Italy's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-2. 92 minutes into the match, Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Clyde Cornelisse came free, but Daniele Cagnetta reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Edmondo Toto struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Marcel Cachia Caruana didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Italy.