Improved Gibraltar slip to 2-0 Estonia defeat

Gibraltar produced a vastly improved performance as they were unlucky to lose 2-0 to Estonia this evening in only their 3rd game as a UEFA member.

Gibraltar competed well

Liam Walker, who missed the loss on Saturday, demonstrated his talent in the 9th minute when his quick feet beat 2 Estonia defenders before he curled a fine dipping effort just over Sergei Pareiko's goal.

Despite the positive start the visitors took the lead a minute later when Konstantin Vassiljev produced a fine through ball which David Artell missed, and Dmitri Kruglov easily prodded home for his 3rd Estonia goal.
 

Unlike the game on Saturday Gibraltar kept their heads up and in the 17th minute Segei Pareiko did well do deny Joseph Chipolina from distance.

 

8 minutes after that and Chipolina again went close, this time firing a clever Yogan Santos cross over the bar. 

The chance of the half for the hosts came in the 37th minute. Chipolina played in Ryan Casciaro down the right and his low cross found Robert Guilling who blasted over from close range.

The teams respect the anthems

Half time substitute Kyle Casciaro shot wide early in the second period as the non-FIFA side continued to press.

 

However the game lulled with both teams failing to break each other down as the half went on.
 

With 20 minutes to go Vassiljev went close from distance before Gibraltar's chance of the game, courtesy of a powerful Joseph Chipolina effort, was expertly saved by Pareiko.

 

In the 80th minute the Estonians secured the victory when substitute Sander Puri picked out Rimo Hunt inside the box and the Kazakhstan-based striker hit a fine first-time effort to make it 2-0.

Gibraltar will have one more friendly before the 2016 European Championship qualifiers get underway. They will travel to Tallinn for a rematch on May 26th.

Match information -
 

Score: Gibraltar 0 - 2 Estonia

 

Goals: Dmitri Kruglov 11', Rimo Hunt 80'

 

Gibraltar XI: Perez; R. Casciaro, Santos, Artell, Higginbotham [Reoch 88'], R. Chipolina; Payas [J-P Duarte 67'], J. Chipolina [Sergeant 90'], Guilling [D. Duarte 61']; Walker; Priestley [K. Casciaro 46'].