THE FAROE ISLANDS won the first World Cup match in their history yesterday, triumphing 2-1 away to fellow strugglers Malta.

The defeat left Malta rooted at the foot of Group Six with no points from seven games and plunged the island into its deepest ever soccer crisis.

The Faroes, victorious for the first time in six attempts in the group, now have three points thanks to a last minute winner from Tody Jonsson.

Malta dominated for long stretches, but failed to build on an eighth minute goal from Stefan Sultana.

The game turned towards the Faroe Islands on the hour when Jonsson was floored in the penalty, area and Ossur Hansen scored from the spot.

In a rousing finale, the Faroes hit the woodwork three minutes before time and Maltese striker Antoine Zahra was sent off for rough play in the last minute.

With virtually the last kick, Jonsson beat goalkeeper Mario Muscat with a powerful low drive to make a little piece of soccer history.

A penalty three minutes from time gave Yugoslavia a 1-1 draw with Spain yesterday to keep alive the battle for top spot in Group Six.

Spain led with a 19th minute penalty by Fernando Hierro and were kept in the game by goal keeper Andoni Zubizaretta until Predrag Mijatovic converted the late spot kick.

Spain still top the group with 17 points, one ahead of Yugoslavia, with Slovakia also still very much in contention on 12 points with two games in hand.