Italy Earn Confident Score Against Shadow Of Recent Malta

Italy delivered a dominant showing to emerge with a 5 – 0 win against a Maltese team that never quite clicked into the gears shown in recent matches. Cristiana Girelli kicked things off early for the Azzurre, but the Italians struggled to convert further for much of the match. However, a Benedetta Glionna strike and a Sofia Cantore brace sealed the faith for Malta in the final ten minutes, with an own goal completing the scoring. Malta’s positive came in the form of Charlene Zammit’s 100th cap for the national team.

Team Selections

Andrea Soncin kept faith in Laura Giuliani who started in goal in front of the home crowd. She was protected by the trio of Julie Piga, Martina Lenzini and Elisa Bartoli. Benedetta Glionna and Angelica Soffia operated as wing-backs, while Giada Greggi and Emma Severini orchestrated in midfield. Agnese Bonfantini led the attack alongside Chiara Beccari and captain Cristiana Girelli.

Meanwhile, Malta’s Manuela Tesse gave the start to Patricia Ebejer between the sticks. Charlene Zammit captained the side on her 100th appearance, starting in defence partnering Emma Lipman. Emma Xuereb and Alishia Sultana started in the full-back positions. Nicole Sciberras started in midfield as pivot Shona Zammit and Brenda Borg. Haley Bugeja supported Maria Farrugia and Kailey Willis in attack.

Malta’s Charlene Zammit was presented with her 100th cap by the Malta Football Assocation Vice President, Dr Maria Azzopardi and outgoing General Secretary Dr Angelo Chetcuti.

How It Unfolded

The Italian side took hold of possession early on, with Chiara Beccari managing to test Patricia Ebejer in the sixth minute. However, the Maltese goalkeeper covered the near post well to save the shot from the tight angle.

Despite this, the home crowd were on their feet just a minute later. Cristiana Girelli rose to head home a cross from Emma Severini, with the skipper making no mistake in directing the finish.

Although struggling to get themselves into much possession, Malta managed to get themselves successive corners as the tenth minute approached. Maria Farrugia earned the first and delivered from the left side deep into the box. However, Kailey Willis protected the deflected ball for a second corner. Shona Zammit delivered the inswinger from the other side, picking out Emma Lipman who fired the volley over the bar.

Italy continued to rotate with patient possession, but Andrea Soncin was forced into an early substitution as Elisa Bartoli was taken down with a hefty challenge. She was directly replaced by Maria Luisa Filangeri in the 20th minute.

The home team earned themselves a corner, which they worked to Benedetta Glionna at the edge of the box. However, she did not manage to get the shot out, with Malta’s Kailey Willis capitalising on possession and trying to get the team forward. However, Martina Lenzini read the attempt to release Maria Farrugia.

Haley Bugeja was next to thrust Malta forward with a forward drive, but opted to play through Brenda Borg, while Manuela Tesse urged her team to go for the shot.

Italy continued dominating the ball, often opting to work the ball to the wings and getting joy in deliveries, but struggling to convert the finishing touch. On the other hand, Malta struggled to get ahold of midfield, effectively cutting a chasm between defence and attack which suited the home side. In attack, the Maltese trio had their own opportunities for forward drives, but struggled to click action together to threaten Laura Giuliani who did not manage to make much of a touch in the opening half.

Italy earned themselves good chances at the latter portions, with Angelica Soffia playing another dangerous cross which was headed wide. Giada Greggi applied the pressure to win possession high up the pitch, opting to drive for the shot, but finding Patricia Ebejer ready to make the save from the tight angle.

More chances ensued in the final stages, Cristiana Girelli was unable to bring under control a cross from Agnese Bonfantini which would have spelled trouble for Malta, before Charlene Zammit and Nicole Sciberras headed away successive corner deliveries to go into the break just one down.

Half-Time Score: Italy 1 – 0 Malta

Andrea Soncin made a change in defence, deploying Lucia Di Guglielmo instead of Martina Lenzini, with Maria Luisa Filangeri moving into the centre of the trio.

Malta looked set to turn heads on the match after working a good string of play as the 50th minute approached on the left-wing. Alishia Cassar passed it forward, before Nicole Sciberras and Maria Farrugia worked a combination for Farrugia to cut-inside for the shot. However, Laura Giuliani was equal to it.

However, Italy sprung back to life with attempts to cut open the Maltese defence. Charlene Zammit was well positioned to deny Agnese Bonfantini from finding Cristiana Girelli who was making the run behind. Nicole Sciberras tracked back well to clear another cross to safety moments later, with the visitors unable to keep the deliveries at bay.

Andrea Soncin handed Eva Schatzer her debut following the hour mark, replacing Giada Greggi in midfield. Meanwhile, Cristiana Girelli also gave way to Valentina Giacinti, with Laura Giuliani taking the captain’s armband.

The home side developed more good opportunities to build on their lead, with Benedetta Glionna aiming a shot toward the far corner which was blocked by Brenda Borg. The number fifteen also lined one up from a set-piece, aiming for the top left corner, but finding Patricia Ebejer equal to it. Valentina Giacinti attempted to head home a few moments later but was wide with the finish.

Further changes ensued from Andrea Soncin, deploying Sofia Cantore and Eleonora Goldoni for Agnese Bonfantini and Chiara Beccari. Malta’s Manuela Tesse made a double-switch shortly after, bringing on Veronique Mifsud and Valentina Rapa in straight swaps with Shona Zammit and Emma Lipman.

Eva Schatzer attempted a strike from a free-kick which had the curl but had just too much height to trouble Patricia Ebejer in goal.

However, the floodgates opened in the 79th minute, with the Italy’s substitutes wreaking havoc for Malta. Sofia Cantore tapped home the finish into the right post from an Emma Severini cross to get the Azzurre going again.

With two goals down, Manuela Tesse made two more changes, bringing on Raisa Costantino in goal instead of Patricia Ebejer, while Maria Farrugia gave way to Mariah Cardona. The latter occupied the left-back position, while Alishia Cassar moved further forward.

Raisa Costantino was immediately called into action, with Benedetta Glionna delivering another cross that Charlene Zammit blocked into the path of Raisa Costantino. Emma Severini continued to orchestrate, finding Sofia Cantore who fired with venom but Costantino reacted well to make the block.

Despite this, Italy searched for more and were rewarded again shortly after. Benedetta Glionna’s untracked run behind the defence was well-found and the Italian got her first goal in the shirt by firing it across into bottom left corner.

Malta were next undone by miscommunication at the back. Valentina Giacinti and Sofia Cantore continued driving forward before a cross into the box was not dealt with by Malta, with a miscommunication between defence and goalkeeper doing the rest to take the score to four goals to nil.

Two final changes ensued from Manuela Tesse in attack, with Ylenia Carabott and Lexine Farrugia taking to the pitch instead of Kailey Willis and Haley Bugeja.

However, Sofia Cantore was still looking for more. The number seven was denied by the post from an early shot, but made it pay a minute later. She shrugged off any hint of a challenge to open up space for a shot, which was deflected on its way to goal, with Costantino getting something on it but unable to keep it out.

Final Score: Italy 5 – 0 Malta

Italy will play a second friendly against Spain on Tuesday at 18:15 at the Menti in Vicenza. Malta’s contingent will reflect on the performance and eye an improved showing in the upcoming international window to be held in November.

Until then, players return to their clubs, with eyes set on pushing on toward their objectives. The Assikura Women’s League returns on the 1st of November.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri 

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