by Belarus ensured a 1 – 0 victory courtesy of a first-half goal by Karyna Alkhovik. Both sides had opportunities in a more open contest than the one on Saturday, with several youngsters coming into the fold with an eye on impressing for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifications.
Team Selections
Manuela Tesse kept faith in Giulia D’Antuono in goal. There were two changes in defence, with Rebecca Bajada and Emma Xuereb starting as full-backs. Stephania Farrugia shifted in the centre-back partnership with Oceane Grange, with Rachel Cuschieri captaining the side instead of Emma Lipman. Nicole Sciberras kept company in midfield, with Yulya Carella making the start instead of Shona Zammit. There were no changes in attack, with Kailey Willis leading the line alongside Haley Bugeja and Maria Farrugia.
Grigorov Vyacheslav Sergeevich made a change in goal, with Katerina Miklashevich getting the nod instead of Maryia Svidunovich. There were no other changes with Yuliya Sliasarchyk, Hanna Kaziupa, Aryna Sitnikava and Zaryna Kapustsina starting in defence. Captain Anastasiya Linnik continuing alongisde Anastasiya Maher, while Hanna Siniauskaya orchestrated further forward. Melana Surautsava continued to lead the line besides Karyna Alkhovik and Anastasiya Shlapakova.
How It Unfolded
The match kicked off in an evenly balanced tussle. Both teams sought to widen the pitch, but both defences were doing well enough to avoid their goalkeeper too much sweat.
Belarus teased a cross in the 24th minute that raised some alarms in the box, with Malta’s defence struggling to effectively deal with it, but Melana Surautsava could not bring it under control in time for the shot.
The visitors raised pressure on the hosts, but Rachel Cuschieri gave Malta some forward momentum, dropping the shoulder in midfield before playing a forward ball toward Maria Farrugia who was a willing runner. She laid it back to Yulya Carella for the cross, but Belarus’ defence dealt with it before Katerina Miklashevich gobbled in the air.
Yulya Carella continued to be a bright introduction for Malta, with the home side coming close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark. The side pressed the mistake in midfield, with Carella playing it first-time for Haley Bugeja who brought it under control despite the pace. She picked up Kailey Willis’ diagonal run behind, but the forward’s effort was blocked from close range by Katerina Miklashevich, with the pace of the ball also taking away the opportunity for Maria Farrugia to tap home a rebound.
The opportunity brought further life to the match, with Belarus responding at the other end. Anastasiya Shlapakova capitalised on the mistake forced in the final third, hitting it first-time for Karyna Alkhovik who arrived in the box. However, Stephania Farrugia made the block.
Alkhovik was found again in space by Hanna Siniauskaya moments later, with the forward cutting onto her right boot. However, the shot was fired at a comfortable height for Giulia D’Antuono, who handled the pace.
Despite this, Alkhovik made sure to bury the third opportunity in the 39th minute. Malta got caught trying to work a short-routine, with Belarus deploying a blistering counter-attack. Anastasiya Shlapakova pushed forward before crossing toward the galloping Karyna Alkhovik, who this time played it into the net for the opener.
Malta responded with a couple of opportunities before the break. Maria Farrugia was released behind the defence, but found Katerina Miklashevich who made the save to continue her charge for a claim for player of the match. The home side also attempted to make something from a ball won in midfield, but the effort from Haley Bugeja favoured the goalkeeper from the tight angle.
Half-Time Score: Malta 0 – 1 Belarus
Changes ensued at the break for both teams, with Giulia D’Antuono making way for Maya Cachia in goal, while Alexandra Gatt started the half at left-back instead of Emma Xuereb. Meanwhile, Nastassia Shuppo, and Darya Harshkova all replacing Anastasiya Shlapakova, Melana Surautsava and Aryna Sitnikava.
Belarus earned the first big break of the half, with Nastassia Shuppo blistering forward before playing the cross toward the continued threat of Karyna Alkhovik. However, she got underneath it in the box.
Rachel Cuschieri led from midfield for Malta, with a charge forward before playing it wide to Haley Bugeja. She cut inside for the shot which was blocked, finding Cuschieri who continued her run. However, Katerina Miklashevich was again well placed to make the save. The goalkeeper towered against the deep corner delivery to keep the visitors ahaed.
Manuela Tesse made a change following the hour mark, with Kailey Willis departing for Shona Zammit, who slotted in midfield. Yulya Carella shifted wide with Haley Bugeja spearheading the attack. Grigorov Vyacheslav Sergeevich responded with a double swap, bringing on youngsters Anastasiya Kavaliova and Liya Tsikhamariva.
Malta saw away successive corners before attempting another half-chance forward with a ball for Haley Bugeja to chase. She shrugged off the challenge from Hanna Kaziupa before cutting inside on the right foot. The ball fell to Yulya Carella who skewed it wide.
The transition on the pitch continued to unfold, with Rachel Cuschieri next to depart for Leah Ayres, while Tammy Falzon debuted at the back replacing Oceane Grange. The captain’s armband continued to rotate for Malta, with Stephania Farrugia making way shortly after, handing it to Shona Zammit, with Maria Farrugia also leaving the field. Leanne Cefai and Amber Grech came into the fold.
Malta split the Belarussian attacks with a charge up the right wing. Rebecca Bajada found Leah Ayres who pushed for a corner at the flag. Shona Zammit’s delivery was met by Stephania Farrugia but she couldn’t get the pace to trouble the goal.
Both teams continued to work to find space on the wing, with the substitutes fitting in to rotate play and attempt to find their moment of glory. The visitors earned two further major opportunities with Anastasiya Kavaliova chasing a lob behind the defensive line but going wide with the shot, before Viktoryia Valiuk’s effort was blocked by Maya Cachia with Alexandra Gatt making the clearance. The second cross found Anastasiya Kavaliova at the far post, but there was just too much height for the youngster to direct the header goalward.
There were two further changes for Belarus as they attempted to run down the clock with Valeryia Belaya and Viktoryia Kazakevich coming on in injury time, while Manuela Tesse was the final one to land in Jo-Anna Vassallo’s book, with the Malta coach furious at a late call against Haley Bugeja.
Belarus charged forward with a final opportunity through Anastasiya Kavaliova, but Leanne Cefai won the one-on-one duel to take the ball in the box and deny the grand finale for the visitors.
Final Score: Malta 0 – 1 Belarus
Next Matches
Malta thus falls twice to defeat to Belarus in the preparations, with a further preparation international window scheduled in November.
The draws for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held on the 4th November, with the matches scheduled to take place between February and June of next year. Malta will be competing in League B, while Belarus will compete in League C, with the potential of promotion and relegation also at stake.
Lead Image: Brandon Bonett
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