Ognjen Vukojevic struck in the 11th minute and it was 2-0 just after the half-hour mark as Milan Badelj drilled a fine effort past Andrew Hogg in the Malta goal. However, Malta captain Mifsud once more showed his predatory instincts, firing past Stipe Pletikosa from inside the box seven minutes before the break to keep the home side in the hunt.

A comeback, however, was not on, and with Malta's defence at sixes and sevens, Dejan Lovren took full advantage, making it 3-1 on 68 minutes.

Croatia remain within a point of section leaders Greece, while Malta hope their luck will finally change as they take on Georgia in their next fixture.