Malta - Faroes 1-2. 1998 World cup qualifiers. Todi's masterpiece

That was one of those matches, when one player's superiority and class decided everything.

By 1997, Todi Jónsson had been developing to the player of highest international class. The game against Malta in April that year duly confirmed that reputation.

Maltese scored first, shortly after the start. But Faroese gradually improved and after the break they were clearly the better side. Todi Jónsson was brought down in the penalty area and Øssur Hansen equalized.

And then came the Faroese winner. Todi scored many beautiful and memorable goals but the stunning individual effort against Malta in injury time was really special.

Later that year, Todi Jónsson was transferred to the reachiest Danish club, FCK Copenhagen, where he enjoyed much success and became a legend.

Live Faroese TV commentaries by Høgni Hoydal, who is now Faroese top politician, leader of Republican Party "Tjóðveldi" and the Faroese independendist movement.

World cup-98 qualifying match. Malta 1 - Faroes 2

April 30, 1997. Ta'Qali, Malta. National Stadium

Referee: Dani Koren (Israel).

1-0: Stefan Sultana 7
1-1: Øssur Hansen 61 penalty
1-2: Todi Jónsson 90

Malta:
1. Mario Muscat, Hibernians Paola
2. Lawrence Attard, Hibernians Paola
(13. Noel Turner, Sliema Wanderers, 67)
3. Jeffrey Chetkuti, Valletta FC
4. Silvio Vella, captain, Hibernians Paola
5. Darren Debono, Valletta FC
6. Ivan Zammit, Valletta FC
7. Gilbert Agius, Valletta FC
8. Nicholas Saliba, Valletta FC
9. Stefan Sultana, Hamrun Spartans
10. Joe Brinkat, Floriana FC
11. Antoine Zahra, Birkirkara FC, sent off 90+s
Coach: Milorad Kosanovic

Faroes:
1. Jens Martin Knudsen, captain, 1967, GÍ Gøta
2. Óli Johannesen, 1972, B36 Tórshavn
3. Jens Kristian Hansen, 1971, B36 Tórshavn
4. Rúni Nolsøe, 1971, HB Tórshavn
5. Pól Thorsteinsson, 1973, VB Vágur
6. Allan Mørkøre, 1971, KÍ Klaksvík
(15. Jens Erik Rasmussen, 1968, HB Tórshavn, 64)
7. Henning Jarnskor, 1972, GÍ Gøta
8. Øssur Hansen, 1971, B68 Toftir
9. Julian Johnsson, 1975, B36 Tórshavn
10. Todi Jónsson, 1972, Lyngby BK, Denmark
11. John Petersen, 1972, B36 Tórshavn
(14. Uni Arge, 1971, HB Tórshavn, 64)
Coach: Allan Simonsen

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Malta
• Faroes
• 1997
• World
• cup
• qualifier
• 1998
• football
• soccer
• Ta'Qali
• Føroyar
• Todi
• Jónsson
• Øssur
• Hansen
• Jens
• Martin
• Knudsen
• Uni
• Arge
• Julian
• Johnsson
• Pól
• Thorsteinsson
• Henning
• Jarnskor
• Rúni
• Nolsøe
• Stefan
• Sultana
• Jeffrey
• Chetkuti
• Antoine
• Zahra
• Mario
• Muscat
• Allan
• Simonsen
• Høgni
• Hoydal
• Faroe
• Islands
• Färöer
• Inseln
• Iles
• Féroé

[Umeavisby]

Yes I'm agree with Farerets and Co ! We must to practice a coefficient between continents (Europe, Asia, Oceania, Afric and the two America). Because when I see african or asian team and New-Zealand before Poland an exemple...

[Farerets]

Yes - it is complete noncense that double world champions Uruguay should play 18 or even 20 games against tough South American opposition and much weaker teams like New Zealand just walk easily through qualifiers...

[MarcusBowen]

New Zealand have to play COMNEBOL 5th placed team, with that being at the moment Argentina. Still, because Australia are now part of the AFC and left the OFC football federation, New Zealand can now easilly coast through and get the playoff game every time. They should like mix two continents together in one qualifying zone like the Africa/Asia group used in the 1970 qualifiers. NZ are weaker than Wales yet if they were in the OFC groups they would coast through.

[Farerets]

No. New Zealand have to play 5th Asian team, which is Bahrain. None of this countries is strong enough to participate in the world cup, while stronger European and South American teams don't make it! It's a shame.

I agree that Asia and Oceania should be the same zone...

[Spacegodzilla2]

yep i argee they can possbly beat fiji,bermuda,mongolia,and many more

[mikiel1988]

I'm Maltese...I remember this game and I can assure you we still think about it to this day...it was such a humiliation losing to a country with a population no bigger than our largest town...Maltese football needed a big shake up and after this match when confidence was extremely low, I personally couldn't see a way forward for our national team

[MarcusBowen]

Ah that's it!, 5th placed COMNEBOL play CONCACAF 4th placed, Bahrain beat Saudi Arabia in the play-off to get this match. Yup, there are many really good European teams like Slovakia, Slovenia and Finland who have the legendary Litmanen that would beat half of CONCACAF'S top 4. Finland are a very good team who have come close in the past to the big tournaments, hopefully the Euro champs will be expanded to 24 teams as is being rumoured.

[Viltharis]

I read an English article, but it is to less for me, I must find more sources and I'll do this. :>

Well, with your Russian language knowledge it's easy for you to unlock name "Wyspy Owcze". :> We in Poland do not study Russian any more - we don't like it after 50 years of communism, but I think it's a really nice language... not as nice as Polish or Scandinavian ones, but it's nice too. :>

[Farerets]

Well, "Wyspy Owcze" means "Islands of Sheep" in English, it is not 100% confirmed that the name "Føroyar" really comes from sheep... Probably but not definitely ;-) On Russian, they say "Farerskije Ostrowa", not "Oweczyi Ostrowa".

You can read English Wikipedia article about Kaj Leo.

[Viltharis]

Oh, so my work was noticed by someone, that's nice for me. :> I don't know if you know that (in Russian it may be similar), but "Wyspy Owcze" is a translation of Faroese name "Føroyar".

I knew, that Kaj Leo Johannesen was a football player, but I didn't know, that he was international goalkeeper too. It's worth to now that, and I didn't mentioned it on Polish Wikipedia. It is going to change soon. :>

Maybe you know where can I find a video relation of the newest Iceland-Faroes match?

[Farerets]

Okey, I was wondering who wrote Polish articles about Wyspy Owcze in Wikipedia... Now it is clarified ;-)

Yes, Høgni was both political and sports commentator before he was elected to Løgting in 1998 - but not any longer!

By may also know, that the current prime minister, Kaj Leo Johannesen, has 4 international caps as a goalkeeper in 1991 and 1992?

[Viltharis]

Well, I know that about Todi, I am writing about the Faroe Islands on the Polish Wikipedia, and article about Todi is also mine. :> I made an article about Tórshavn featured article too, but no I think I could write more about your capital.

I also know, that Høgni Hoydal is know one of the most important politicians in Løgting , but I did not know, that he was (or still is?) a sport commentator.