by Malta came back to secure a 1-1 draw against Luxembourg, with the two ending the UEFA Women’s U17 Qualification Round 2 with a point apiece. Federica Morvilli nudged Luxembourg forward early on, before Sara Saliba levelled things in the second half. Neither side could snatch the win, despite Malta being down to ten for the final twenty minutes.
Team Selections
Luxembourg’s Isabel Blanco Hayles started in goal behind a back-four consisting of Charlie Jorge Magalhaes, Ella Schmit, Ana Barbosa Abreu and Zoe Texeira. Captain Anna Miny started in front of the defence alongside Olivia Konsbruck, with Eva Marinelli further forward. Maylis Cabral Tavares and Carolina Barbosa De Sousa occupied the width in support of Federica Morvili in attack.
Malta’s Maya Muscat started in goal, protected by a centre-back partnership between Aisha Micallef and Ylenia Azzopardi. Thea Ida Scicluna and Francesca Bartolo protected the flanks. Stella Francalanza started in midfield in the company of Ema Micallef and Amelia Vassallo. Kaysia Micallef and captain Lexine Farrugia occupied the width to Sara Saliba in attack.
How It Unfolded
Luxembourg started the strongest of the two to nudge themselves into the lead just six minutes into the match. Maylis Cabral Tavares launched a ball for Federica Morvili. The striker took the ball into her stride to get away from the goalkeeper, who surged way out from the box, before rolling it into the net for the opener, with the defence unable to recover.
Malta attempted to work an opening in the 19th minute as captain Lexine Farrugia released Sara Saliba behind the defence, but Isabel Blanco Hayles was quickly off her line to sweep. Francesca Bartolo managed to win a free-kick with the opportunity to put the ball into the box in the 22nd minute. However, Lexine Farrugia’s delivery was collected by Isabel Blanco Hayles.
As the half-hour marked rolled on, Luxembourg had the opportunity to add to their tally from a free-kick on the right wing but could not convert. Francesca Bartolo also made a crucial interception to deny Federica Morvili a one on one with the goalkeeper.
Vince Galea made an attack-minded change in the 33rd minute, bringing on Suzanne Farrugia Sacco in replacement of Ema Micallef. Farrugia Sacco slotted in the wing, while Lexine Farrugia shifted into the centre of the pitch.
Luxembourg threatened from corners, while both sides had opportunities from direct-free-kicks, but neither could convert before the half-time whistle.
Half-Time Score: Luxembourg 1 – 0 Malta
Vince Galea made a second swap at the break, bringing on Ilona Abela at full-back, in replacement of Aisha Micallef, pushing Francesca Bartolo into the centre-back position.
Malta attempted to get a stronger footing in the opening minutes, in search of finding an equaliser and they were rewarded in the 52nd minute. Lexine Farrugia fired from just over the half-way line, forcing a palm from Isabel Blanco Hayles. However, Sara Saliba pounced on the rebound to secure the equaliser.
Luxembourg looked like they were onto something rom a corner but Ana Barbosa Abreu pulled the shot wide after having done well to win the tussle for open space. Olivia Konsbruck was next to try to thread a pass behind which was snuffed out by Maya Muscat, before Isabel Blanco Hayles was off her line to deny Kaysia Micallef the space for the shot.
Lexine Farrugia attempted to sneak one into the net from distance, but could not manage the height to trouble Isabel Blanco Hayles who was off her line. Things took a turn for the worse for the Maltese side as Amelia Vassallo made a late tackle on Luxembourg’s Eva Marinelli, prompting a second yellow card from the referee in the 67th minute.
Stella Francalanza fired a hopeful shot from distance which Isabel Blanco Hayles was untroubled by once more, before Joana Ribeiro Fernandes and Jenny Soares Magalhaes took to the pitch instead of Carolina Barbosa De Souza and Federica Morvilli.
Malta’s Amber Galea was shortly brought on in replacement of Suzanne Farrugia Sacco. The change resulted in Francesca Bartolo moving into midfield, while Amber Galea partnered Ylenia Azzopardi in the centre of the defence.
Luxembourg had an opportunity to strike on goal from a free-kick but Olivia Konsbruck got too much power on the shot. Barbosa de Sousa made a dart up the right wing but her cross was cleared by Ylenia Azzopardi.
Malta were dealt with more woes as they were forced into another substitution in the 82nd minute as Sara Saliba took a knock and was replaced by Nyorah Celeste. Depsite being down to ten, Malta developed a good opportunity as Francesca Bartolo released Kaysia Micallef behind the defence. However, the forward could only settle for a corner against the goalkeeper.
Lexine Farrugia aimed for the far post, but it was just behind Francesca Bartolo who could not readjust in time enough to get real purchase and repeat the goal against Northern Ireland.
Francesca Bartolo was again involved in releasing Lexine Farrugia but she was thwarted by Luxembourg’s Ella Schmidt. At the other end, Charlie Jorge Magalhaes won a corner off Ilona Abela but the secondary shot was blocked by Amber Galea.
As the match drew to a close, Lexine Farrugia won a free-kick with the opportunity to put the ball into the box. Nyorah Celeste headed on before Kaysia Micallef attempted to put the finishing touch, only to see the ball fly off-target from just inside the six-yard box. As five minutes of injury time kicked on, Luxembourg’s Anna Miny forced a save from Maya Muscat, before Francesca Bartolo attempted to make something from a free-kick to no avail, sending the teams home with a point apiece.
Final Score: Luxembourg 1 – 1 Malta
The result will be a bitter one for both teams who walk away with just a point from the tournament. However, Malta will be the most disappointed to finish the round in third place after conceding one goal more than Luxembourg on home soil.
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