by A brace by captain Milena Nikolic completed the comeback for Bosnia & Herzegovina to walk away with all three-points in Group B3. Malta’s Maria Farrugia opened the scoring in the first ten minutes, but Milena Nikolic equalised following the hour mark, before finding another winner in injury time. Bosnia & Herzegovina also missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Team Selections
The two coaches made just one change apiece from the two sides that they fielded on Friday. Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Selver Hodzic was forced into a change in midfield, with Aida Hadzic replacing the suspended Marija Aleksic.
Meanwhile, Malta’s Manuela Tesse made one change in attack, bringing in Alishia Sultana instead of Jade Flask. Sultana occupied the right wing, while Maria Farrugia spearheaded the attack. The match also marked Stephania Farrugia’s hundredth appearance for the Malta women’s national team, making her just the second player to achieve this feat after Dorianne Theuma.
How It Unfolded
The game kicked off to a more open contest than the one on Friday. Malta had a good opportunity to put the ball into the box as Haley Bugeja linked with Brenda Borg out wide. However, Almina Hodzic collected.
Bosnia & Herzegovina responded with a counter-attack, with Emina Ekic crossing the ball into the box, but finding Emma Lipman ready to make the interception.
The referee was not keen on any dissent and reached into her pocket within the 9th minute, booking Aida Hadzic after the midfielder voiced her disagreement over a decision.
Things took a turn for the worse for the home side as Maria Farrugia opened the scoring in the 10th minute, with a left-footed curler into the top left corner. The forward was well found with a short pass by Brenda Borg after she linked with Alishia Sultana, who had been found by a long ball from Emma Lipman.
The home side responded with a good opportunity as Dajana Spasojevic launched a free-kick toward captain Milena Nikolic, who missed the target with the header. Emma Lipman was called into action shortly after to head away a cross from Amela Krso, before blocking an effort from Dajana Spasojevic.
Malta settled into a rhythm playing quick one-touch football, while both sides were keen to let fly from distance if the space opened up. However, neither goalkeeper was too troubled. Keen on adding to their tally, Malta’s Shona Zammit played a smart ball to release Haley Bugeja, but Almina Hodzic was quick off her line.
The visitors had another big chance as Malta’s Rachel Cuschieri fired a direct free-kick just over the half-hour mark, forcing a save from Almina Hodzic. Haley Bugeja followed in but fired into the side-netting from the tight angle.
The visitors developed another quick attack on the right flank as Charlene Zammit sped forward, flicking a pass from Brenda Borg into the path of Maria Farrugia. Rachel Cuschieri joined play to Haley Bugeja, but Melisa Hasanbegovic shut the door as the forward attempted to find space for the shot.
At the other end, Bosnia & Herzegovina developed a good chance from open play as Selma Kapetanovic found Minela Gacanica with a cross, but she was wide of the mark.
A major opportunity was granted to the home side as the referee pointed to the spot at the stroke of half-time, with Minela Gacanica deemed to have been pulled by Ann-Marie Said. Fortunately for the visitors, Milena Nikolic fired it over the bar.
Half-Time Score: Bosnia & Herzegovina 0 – 1 Malta
Selver Hodzic made a swap at the break, bringing on Ena Sabanagic in replacement of the already booked Aida Hadzic. Sabanagic slotted at right-back, while Gloria Sliskovic moved into the centre of the defence and Marija Milinkovic pushed forward into midfield.
The open game ensued on the restart with Nikolic heading another oppportunity wide, before Haley Bugeja forced a palm from Almina Hodzic. Meanwhile, Patricia Ebejer was keen on snuffing out aerial balls when having the opportunity.
Despite this, warnings ensued from Bosnia & Herzegovina as Minela Gacanica flicked a cross from Amela Krso just over the bar. However, captain Milena Nikolic rose to the occasion once more to head home the equaliser in the 64th minute, from another Krso delivery.
The home side were almost gifted a goal in the 71st minute as Melisa Hasanbegovic delivered a second ball into the box, which was palmed into a dangerous area but Malta saw away the threat.
Substitutions ensued from both sides as the final twenty minutes rolled in, with fatigue evident on the pitch. Sofija Krajsumovic replaced Minela Gacanica for the home team, shortly followed by Andrea Cule and Elma Husic in replacement of Dajana Spasojevic and Selma Kapetanovic. Alma Krajnic replaced Emina Ekic just before injury time.
A double swap ensued for Malta as Kailey Willis and Nicole Sciberras took to the pitch in replacement of Alishia Sultana and Haley Bugeja, followed by the introduction of Maya Lucia instead of Brenda Borg late on.
Malta appeared to be holding on to the point, while taking a cautioned approach toward a winner. Maya Lucia found Kailey Willis with a cross in injury time, but was asking plenty of the attacker’s header from the tight angle.
Instead, Bosnia & Herzegovina snatched all three points once more with another late goal from Milena Nikolic. The towering attacker controlled the cross and hit low into the net in the 94th minute.
Malta attempted to find the equaliser through a free-kick that Ann-Marie Said delivered into the dangerous area. However, neither Kailey Willis nor Nicole Sciberras could not let fly the shot, with Bosnia & Herzegovina retaining their lead to the full-time whistle.
Final Score: Bosnia & Herzegovina 2 – 1 Malta
Standings
Bosnia & Herzegovina take their tally to six points, while Malta walk away from the round with just the one point captured in the first match of the qualifications. The other match in the group will be played at 20:00, as Northern Ireland welcome leaders Portugal, who are yet to be beaten and concede in these fixtures.
Lead Image: Malta FA
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