Greece back on top thanks to Torossidis

Greece scored in the second minute of added time to win in Malta and jump to the top of the Group F standings.

It looked as if the visitors were going to be frustrated in Ta' Qali, but a last-gasp scrambled effort from Vassilis Torossidis was enough to secure all three points. Prior to that, Greece had fallen foul of Justin Haber's goalkeeping heroics, but they eventually overcame him, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos's 84th-minute dismissal, to run out winners.

Torossidis enjoyed the first chance for Fernando Santos's men, only to shoot wide when well placed. At the other end, Malta striker Michael Mifsud was proving a regular nuisance and nearly found a way through in the 22nd minute, but his team-mate Haber had to make his first key contribution soon after, keeping out an acrobatic Nikos Liberopoulos effort. He then denied Dimitris Salpingidis low down.

André Schembri and Mifsud responded with chances for Malta as the interval approached, but Greece quickly reasserted themselves in the second period, with Haber forced to save brilliantly from Torossidis. Almost straight away, Liberopoulos headed against the post as the pressure built on the hosts, and Haber was in action again just past the hour, blocking a Kostas Katsouranis effort.

Mifsud then went close before being fouled by Papastathopoulos, an infringement that led to a straight red for the AC Milan defender. However, Greece had the last word as Torossidis finally beat Haber to put his side a point clear of Croatia, beaten earlier on Saturday by Georgia.