Malta claim first win for 24 years

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TA' QALI, Malta -- Malta won their first European Championship qualifying tie for 24 years on Wednesday, humbling once mighty Hungary 2-1 in a Euro 2008 Group C clash.

Andre Schembri scored twice for the Maltese to give them their first points of the campaign and virtually end Hungary's hopes of qualifying for the finals.

Hungary did manage an equalzser through Sandor Torghelle but they were reduced to 10 men after 38 minutes when Vilmos Vanczak was sent off for a late tackle.

"It was an excellent performance from Malta," Malta's Czech coach Dusan Fitzel told reporters.

"The players' confidence grew after we managed to take an early lead and even though Hungary equalized soon after, the team did not lose focus.

"This was one of those nights when everything just went right for my team. I just hope that this win is not our first and last in this competition."

Malta, who last won a Euro qualifier against Iceland in neutral Messina in 1982, thoroughly deserved their victory as they were the better side, especially after Vanczak was red-carded for fouling Michael Mifsud.

The hosts drew first blood after 13 minutes when the tricky Mifsud's shot came back off the woodwork and the 20-year-old Schembri stabbed the ball into the net.

Hungary needed just six minutes to get back on terms, Sandor Torghelle guiding the ball past Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber after a cross from Stabolcs Huszti.

Mifsud wasted a chance to put Malta back in front when he fired wide from in front of goal while Kevin Sammut's close-range effort was diverted on to the post.

Hungary's Zoltan Gera brought a reflex save out of Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber on the stroke of halftime.

Six minutes into the second half, Schembri breezed past the on-rushing Gabor Kiraly to side foot the winner and clinch an historic victory against the former World Cup finalists.

European champions Greece sank 10-man Bosnia with a first-half penalty and three late goals to make it three wins out of three in their Group C qualifying campaign.

Greece went ahead in the ninth minute when forward Angelos Haristeas converted what looked like a harshly-awarded penalty after left-back Dalibor Silic used a hand to protect his face from a fierce Stylianos Giannakopoulos shot.

Substitute defender Christos Patsatzoglou, forward Georgios Samaras and midfielder Konstantions Katsouranis scored in the last 10 minutes to enhance the win after Bosnia had defender Sasa Papac sent off five minutes into the second half.

It was a case mistaken identity by Russian referee Yuri Baskakov, as Emir Spahic committed the foul on Giannakopoulos on the edge of the box while Papac was several meters away.

The win lifts the Greeks alongside Turkey on nine points after their rivals' 5-0 thrashing of Moldova.

Belgian referee Johny Ver Eecke gives a red card to Hungarian Vilmos Vanczak.

Belgian referee Johny Ver Eecke gives a red card to Hungarian Vilmos Vanczak.

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