Malta rue missed penalty in 0-2 loss to Italy

Malta succumbed 2-0 to Italy in a World Cup 2014 qualifier at the Ta' Qali national stadium this evening.  The result was sealed by a first-half double by Milan striker Mario Balotelli, although Malta were unlucky to miss a penalty in the 18th minute that would have leveled the score at 1-1.   The Azzurri were up after just 8 minutes, when Balotelli slotted home a penalty procured by El Shaarawy, who was brought down in the box by Dimech.  Malta had a chance to draw level 8 minutes after that when Buffon tripped Schembri, but the Italy no. 1 was on fine form and stopped Mifsud's (admittedly poor) penalty.  The European Championship finalists poked and probed until they got a second at the end of the half, when a long ball found De Sciglio, who snuck it back to his Milan teammate Balotelli to make it 2-0.  That score remained unchanged throughout the second half, though Malta went close with Muscat and Italy almost grabbed a third with Giaccherini.  20:05 pm Bertrand Borg: Good evening e buonasera ladies and gents, we're here for the event thousands of Maltese have been waiting for, as Malta take on footballing behemoths Italy in a Group B qualifier for World Cup 2014! 20:10...