Bosnia & Herzegovina Earn First Victory With Late Header Against Malta

Bosnia & Herzegovina earned their first victory under Selver Hodzic’s tutelage with a late winner from captain Milena Nikolic. The win takes Bosnia & Herzegovina into third place, while Portugal continued their perfect start in Group B3. Malta’s Dorianne Theuma made her final appearance with the national team.

Team Selections

Malta’s Manuela Tesse trusted Patricia Ebejer in goal, protected by an experienced back four. Captain Emma Lipman partnered Stephania Farrugia, with the duo flanked by Charlene Zammit and Ann-Marie Said. Rachel Cuschieri, Brenda Borg and Shona Zammit continued to be entrusted to operate in midfield. Haley Bugeja and Maria Farrugia flanked Jade Flask in attack.

Meanwhile, Selver Hodzic opted for Almina Hodzic in goal. She was protected by a back-four, with Melisa Hasanbegovic and Marija Milinkovic in its centre. Gloria Sliskovic and Selma Kapetanovic started out wide. Dajana Spasojevic and Marija Aleksic started in front of the defence. Captain Milena Nikolic orchesstrated behind Minela Gacanica, while Amela Krso and Emina Ekic operated out wide.

Dorianne Theuma was presented with a token of appreciation for her services throughout the career with the national team ahead of her final match, by former national team coach and women’s football director Pierre Brincat, together with the General Secretary of the Malta Football Association, Dr Angelo Chetcuti.

How It Unfolded

It was a tense opening half for the hosts as the visitors imposed themselves on the match. Bosnia & Herzegovina settled into their game-plan early, finding their wide forwards who were happy to dip crosses into the far post.

Amela Krso was almost teed up by Minela Gacanica in the 20th minute, but her header was pulled wide. Krso attempted to link with Emina Ekic shortly after, but her finish ended in the side netting at the far post.

On the other hand, Malta’s were largely kept away from striking on Almina Hodzic’s goal, but earned themselves four corners in the opening half. Rachel Cuschieri found Haley Bugeja with the first, whose left-footed effort forced Almina Hodzic to parry for another. A shorter routine saw Maria Farrugia played into space for a shot but quickly closed down before being able to pull the trigger. Bosnia & Herzegovina did not break too much sweat with the other two.

As expected, the physicality resulted in more than a few ending up on the deck, with Haley Bugeja needing some treatment but soldiering on. Marija Aleksic landed in the book for leaving her mark Brenda Borg, while Maria Farrugia was immersed against the defence, with Selma Kapetanovic next to hit the deck.

With plenty of action in their own half, Emma Lipman and Stephania Farrugia both led forward charges, aiming to get the team up the pitch. Meanwhile, Ann-Marie Said and Charlene Zammit picked their spots to support the attacks.

As the half-hour mark approached, Manuela Tesse swapped her forwards, which Selver Hodzic matched shortly after. The Bosnia & Herzegovina coach switched things further shortly after with Milena Nikolic becoming the striker, supported by Emina Ekic, while Minela Gacanica shifted wide.

However, it was Malta who had the two better opportunities at the end of the first half as Brenda Borg found Jade Flask with a direct ball, but the striker’s effort was meek on the stretch as Melisa Hasanbegovic closed down. The number eleven was in on the action again shortly after, finding Maria Farrugia with a low cross, but Melisa Hasanbegovic put enough pressure to deny a clean shot.

Half-Time Score: Malta 0 – 0 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia & Herzegovina fired a real warning in the 52nd minute with Amela Krso releasing Milena Nikolic between the two centre-halves. She dinked it over the rushing Patricia Ebejer, but Minela Gacanica fired high and wide from the tight angle. Amela Krso delivered another peach of a ball toward Minela Gacanica a few minutes later, who headed it across the face of goal, but Stephania Farrugia cleared the lines.

The visitors continued being positive in play, while Malta’s Shona Zammit, Brenda Borg & Rachel Cuschieri were putting their best efforts to protect the defence, before attempting to pick passes to release the team on the attack. Maria Farrugia burst into acres of space close to the hour mark but found Marija Milikovic staunch opposition once more.

First changes ensued, with Kailey Willis swapping place with Jade Flask. Ajma Kajnic made an appearance for the visitors shortly after in replacement of Minela Gacanica.

Malta resisted four corners from Bosnia & Herzegovina before play truly started to become stretched as the final fifteen minutes approached. Kailey Willis and Maria Farrugia appeared to be linking well but final deliveries still eluded the home side. At the other end, Bosnia & Herzegovina were looking to get past the defence but often held back by the offside flag.

Malta developed a real chance in the 84th minute as Brenda Borg surged forward with the ball from the left wing, before finding Haley Bugeja centrally. The forward delivered a weighted ball over the defence for Maria Farrugia who closed in on goal and opted for the shot which rose over the crossbar.

Having signalled to the bench earlier on, Rachel Cuschieri gave way to Nicole Sciberras in the 85th minute. Late appearances were also made by Sofija Krajsumovic for Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Andrea Cule made her debut for the national team.

Having threatened with crosses throughout the match, Amela Krso finally got her assist by picking out Milena Nikolic who headed it into the net in the 88th minute for the only goal.

Despite the late goal sinking the home crowd, cheers ensued as Dorianne Theuma took to the pitch instead of Haley Bugeja, with the number six handed the captain’s armband on her final appearance. Kailey Willis did well to win a free-kick, which Dorianne Theuma delivered deep toward Stephania Farrugia. However, Bosnia & Herzegovina cleared their lines well.

The home team sent everybody forward for a final corner in injury time. Dorianne Theuma hung it toward the far post where Kailey Willis rose high to head it into the six-yard box, but the visitors cleared their lines to hold on to the victory.

Final Score: Malta 0 – 1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia & Herzegovina swap places to take themselves into third place in the group on three points with the victory, while Malta remain with one point earned against the Northern Ireland. The Maltese side will have work to do on Tuesday to take themselves back ahead of Bosnia & Herzegovina away from home. Elsewhere, Portugal continued their perfect start, winning by 4-0 against the Northern Ireland, with the latter remaining on four points.

Lead Image: Dorienne Grech

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