Malta And Bosnia & Herzegovina: The Story So Far

Malta and Bosnia & Herzegovina will rekindle their battle at the Centenary Stadium on Friday 31st May (KO19:30), meeting for the first encounter in Group B3 in the UEFA Women’s European Qualifications. Bosnia & Herzegovina have history on their side, having won seven out of the nine encounters played over twenty-one years between the two. However, those statistics may just be the fuel to continue firing Malta’s upward trajectory.

A Tale Over Two Decades

Malta and Bosnia & Herzegovina will meet for back-to-back clashes in a span of just five days as they enter the second round of the UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers in Group B3. The two countries are no strangers to each other, having met nine times already, with Bosnia enjoying seven wins, while the two sides ended all square in the other two encounters.

2003-2007

Interestingly, the encounters span across the entire history of Malta’s Women’s National Team, with the two nations having first met in September of 2003. Bosnia & Herzegovina won the first tie with a second-half goal courtesy of Samira Hurem in the 72nd minute.

Bosnia & Herzegovina’s record cap holder and goal scorer Sabina Pehic downed the Maltese troops in the next two encounters. The forward hit a brace a year on from the first encounter, and then scored the only goal twenty minutes from time when the two sides met in March of 2006.

However, Malta put the breaks on Bosnia & Herzegovina’s winning streak the following June. Malta’s own current record cap holder and goalscorer, Dorianne Theuma, was the first to breach Bosnia & Herzegovina’s goal. However, substitute Tamara Skrbic struck the equaliser in the second half to deny the home side the celebrations of a first victory.

The two sides met for a fourth time in October of 2007, with Malta opening the score early, on courtesy of a set-piece by captain Rebecca D’Agostino. However, Sabina Pehic drew from the penalty spot in the second half, before Amela Fetahovic sealed the come-back ten minutes from time.

2019-2021

A twelve-year break ensued, marking a changing of the guard in the coaching position for both nations. Samira Hurem had taken over for Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Mark Gatt took the reigns for Malta.

An overhaul ensued in the line-ups as well. Bosnia & Herzegovina took to the pitch with a completely new set of players in September of 2019 as the sixth encounter kicked-off between the two nations. On the other hand, Dorianne Theuma, Ylenia Carabott, Stephania Farrugia and Charlene Zammit were the only ones to re-appear for Malta since 2007. Despite this, some pattern remained, with Samira Hurem’s team earning a 2-0 victory on home soil thanks to a brace by Milena Nikolic. Once again, Malta’s defences were breached in the 72nd and 80th minute.

Sofija Krajsumovic appeared to have closed off the match early in 2020, scoring a hat-trick inside the first 54 minutes to kill the hopes of the Maltese crowd. However, Malta’s contingent showed character by getting a goal back through Emma Xuereb in the final ten minutes, before Brenda Borg added another in injury time, to finish things in a 3-2 defeat for Malta.

More late drama ensued a year later as Malta were once again all hands to the pump to try to recover a 2-0 deficit within the first half-hour. Milena Nikolic gave Bosnia & Herzegovina an early lead in the 6th minute, that was solidified Maja Jelcic close to half an hour later. However, Malta’s Maria Farrugia got a goal back in the 81st minute, before Stephania Farrugia earned a dramatic equaliser in injury time, sending the 265 spectators on their feet and several of Malta’s bench into the book. It marked just the second draw for Malta against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

However, Bosnia & Herzegovina had the upper-hand once more in the last encounter between the two nations in November of 2021. Maja Jelcic came up with the goods once more in the opening half, with her goal being enough to separate the two.

More Of The Same?

Looking at the head-to-head between the two sides, Bosnia & Herzegovina walk into the match as the heavy favourites. However, there has never been too much to separate the two teams in terms of the scoreline and the recent form suggests that these fixtures could be close to call again.

Since the last encounter, Bosnia & Herzegovina had a good showing in the UEFA Women’s Nations League under the tutelage of Samira Hurem. She steered them to an eleven points’ finish in second place in group B4 (League B), notching two narrow victories against Belarus and eventual group winners Czech Republic, while holding Slovenia to two draws.

There was a changing of the guard since, with Selver Hodzic taking charge for the play-off to get into League A in February. However, there was little stopping giants Sweden who took home a 10-0 aggregate over two legs, keeping Bosnia & Herzegovina in League B.

Meanwhile, Malta went into the UEFA Women’s Nations League with Manuela Tesse in charge. The country went on an unbeaten streak to secure promotion into League B by winning their group. February’s friendlies may offer some insight as the nation beat the Faroe Islands comfortably, before being denied a famous victory against Belarus with a late equaliser.

The encounters against Belarus continue to suggest that there may not be too much to separate the two sides once more. However, as noted above, Bosnia & Herzegovina have had a change in their coach since then, which puts a different challenge to contend with once more for Malta.

History Awaits

The two teams kicked off their UEFA Women’s European Qualification encounters last April. Both teams succumbed to shut-out defeats at the hands of Group B3 leaders, Portugal. Bosnia & Herzegovina fell to a 3-0 defeat in Leira, while Malta were defeated at home by 2-0. On the other hand, Malta secured a point against Northern Ireland, while Bosnia & Herzegovina walked away empty-handed from their encounter at home.

In this regard, the round two fixtures will have a crucial impact on the nations’ trajectory in the standings within the group. A third-place finish remains the minimum target for the countries wishing to remain in League B.

Across the nine battles that have been played in the twenty-one years that elapsed since the first encounter, a total of forty players donned the Maltese shirt, while sixty-five players wore the Bosnia & Herzegovina one. Malta’s Dorianne Theuma is the only player to have played all nine encounters. Five coaches took to the dug-outs, and two new-ones will attempt to steer their side to victory in the coming matches.

In ten days, Bosnia & Herzegovina will seek to take their head-to-head victories into double figures. Malta will want to continue proving their upward trajectory by at least notching their first win against these old foes and also in League B.

The battle will be renewed in Malta on Friday the 31st of May at the Centenary Stadium, at 19:30. Tickets are available for online purchase here. The reverse fixture will be played on the 4th June in Zenica, at 16:00.

Lead Image: Joe Borg

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