National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when John Lennon took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 2nd minute, Cordarin Escurza got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Bayan Baye might have been able to make a better finish in the 5th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Leonardo Da Vinci. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Bayan Baye ran back to his position shaking his head. Leonardo Da Vinci took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Froilan Reyes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Leonardo Da Vinci showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Froilan Reyes, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. Antonio Navarro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Erasto Bargas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 18th match minute, Spain was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bayan Baye to maneuver through the defense. In the 19th minute of the match, John Lennon tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Erasto Bargas saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Spain's Erasto Bargas proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 23rd minute of the match, managed to save Spain from getting a goal against them. Erasto Bargas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from John Lennon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Erasto Bargas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Neil Degabriele, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With an all-out effort, Malta's Erasto Bargas threw himself towards the right post 39 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from John Lennon, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Spain were awarded a corner in the 42th minute after Malta's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Edorta Portillo took the corner. A collision led to Spain getting a freekick after 46 minutes play. Froilan Reyes hit a great ball. Spain's Erasto Bargas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Samuel Griffin in the 47th minute of play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Froilan Reyes was the one to do the kick off. Leonardo Da Vinci took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Froilan Reyes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, Malta's Leonardo Da Vinci got control of the ball when Froilan Reyes tried to sneak it across the goal line. Samuel Griffin might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Erasto Bargas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Samuel Griffin ran back to his position shaking his head. Spain's Coronel Fuster was substituted for Bayan Baye. The throw-in from Nemanja Vidic in the 72nd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Spain's Miro Contratas. Coronel Fuster kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. Erasto Bargas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jonathan Sammut in the 78th minute of the match. Erasto Bargas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from John Lennon in the 80th minute of play. In the 82nd minute Coronel Fuster shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leonardo Da Vinci saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Malta's Leonardo Da Vinci played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Coronel Fuster in the 82nd minute of play. John Lennon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Cordarin Escurza who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 89thth minute tested the skills of Leonardo Da Vinci when he managed to save the team from getting behind. A hard shot 89 in the game by Cordarin Escurza from a close distance when the talented Leonardo Da Vinci managed to make a qualified save. Malta's players were relieved. The supporters of Spain booed when Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nikolai Incorvaia didn't get a good kick on the ball. 96 minutes into the match, Coronel Castro notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Malta's Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo Da Vinci was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Spain eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.