Hosts Malta clinch biennial tournament

Host nation Malta continued their steady improvement under new German coach Sigi Held by winning a biennial international tournament at their National stadium on Wednesday.

Unbeaten record
Malta convincingly beat Moldova 3-0 to maintain their unbeaten record in the four-team competition and top the group for the first time since 1992.
 
Faith pays off
Lithuania’s shock demise at the hands of Jordan had meant Malta needed only a draw to be sure of landing the trophy, but Held left local favourites Michael Mifsud and Gilbert Agius on the bench. Instead, Floriana FC’s George Mallia was included from the start and the coach’s faith in him paid off when he headed Malta’s first goal just past the half-hour mark.

Mifsud seals it
FC Kaiserslautern's Mifsud came off the bench to set up George Mallia, who blasted the second goal on 53 minutes, and then added the third himself three minutes from full time. But it was a day to forget for Maltese captain David Carabott, who was rushed to hospital with a broken leg and was unable to collect the trophy.