by Malta secured a first victory against Croatia, edging out the match by 3 – 2. Malta were put in front by Rachel Cuschieri, but two quick goals by Karla Kurkutovic and Ivana Rudelic in the opening stint of the second half swiftly turned the match on its head. Sara Saliba came on from the bench to get Malta level with her first goal in senior team colours ten minutes from time, before Maria Farrugia completed the comeback for the victory two minutes later.
Team Selections
Malta’s Manuela Tesse kept faith in Giulia D’Antuono in goal. She was protected by a quartet consisting of Rebecca Bajada, Stephania Farrugia, captain Emma Lipman and Maya Lucia. There was consistency in midfield, with Nicole Sciberras keeping the company of Rachel Cuschieri and Shona Zammit. Kailey Willis spearheaded the attack, flanked by Maria Farrugia and Yulya Carella.
Meanwhile, Nenad Gracan relied on the experience of captain Doris Bacic in goal. Barbara Zivkovic and Lucia Orkic flanked Ana Jelencic and Tea Vracevic in defence. Helena Spajic and Lucija Vunic started in front of the defence. Maja Joscak orchestrated further forward, with Karla Kurkutovic and Janja Canjevac on the wings, while Ivana Rudelic spearheaded the attack.
How It Unfolded
Malta kicked off brightly, earning an early corner through an organised press. However, Shona Zammit’s inswinger was fisted out by Doris Bacic.
The hosts continued an industrious start, with Yulya Carella winning the ball high up the pitch and finding Kailey Willis in support. She roped in Rachel Cuschieri, who saw the opportunity to find Maria Farrugia’s diagonal run. However, the play was pulled back for offisde.
Croatia responded with good link up play between Maja Joscak and Janja Canjevac. However, the left footed effort aimed toward the near post lacked control to trouble Giulia D’Antuono.
Both sides appeared focused on maintaining their shape, with Malta having the more attacking intent. Rachel Cuschieri continued to be most threathening from midfield, with the veteran looking to break between the lines and link with Maria Farrugia and Yulya Carella.
The link worked to good effect on the quarter-hour mark as Maria Farrugia found the space up the right wing, before playing the cross which Rachel Cuschieri redirected into the roof of the net for the opener.
Croatia showed no signs of panic, with the side preferring to go back to their captain in goal in search of dislodging the Maltese shape. Malta fashioned an opportunity with Nicole Sciberras winning the ball high up the pitch, before finding Yulya Carella out wide. However, the cross was dealt with by the defence before Doris Bacic palmed out Rachel Cuschieri’s corner delivery.
However, Croatia ramped up the attacking intent up front as the half-hour mark approached. The side earned opportunities to threathen from set-pieces, with referee Emanuela Rusta getting involved but reluctant to show cards. However, the visitors struggled to trouble the goal, with Malta’s defence alert to deliveries and Giulia D’Antuono picking up anything floated in her midst.
Half-Time Score: Malta 1 – 0 Croatia
Malta’s Manuela Tesse made one change at the break at left-back, bringing on Alexandra Gatt instead of Maya Lucia.
However, it was Croatia who started brightest with the intent to level the score burning brighter. Karla Kurkutovic delivered to spectacular fashion to get the team level. The winger delivered a sweet first-timed volley to lift Maja Joscak’s dinked pass over Giulia D’Antuono and into the far corner of the net to get Croatia level, five minutes into the half.
Ivana Rudelic gave Malta no chance to get their bearings, capitalising on the aftermath with a shot perfectly placed into the bottom left side of the goal from outside the box, one minute later.
With the match swiftly turned on its head, it was on the home time to chase the game for the first time.
Both coaches reacted with changes. Sara Saliba replaced Kailey Willis up front, with the youngster making her first senior national appearance on home soil, following her first cap against Portugal last year. Meanwhile, goalscorer Karla Kurkutovic and Barbara Zivkovic were replaced by Petra Mikulica and Izabela Lojna.
Neither side could threathen enough from set-pieces, with Malta’s push vocally injected by captain Emma Lipman on the pitch. The touchline was animated, by Manuela Tesse, with the Malta coach landing in the book for words exchanged also with the assistant referee as Emanuela Rusta lacked to play the advantage.
Though Doris Bacic was somewhat tested, Manuela Tesse opted for another switch bringing on Leah Ayres in partnership with Sara Saliba, with Malta betting on the tactical switch, as Yulya Carella gave way.
Ivana Rudelic threathened to put the game to bed from the 6-yard box, but was unable to keep down the effort under pressure.
Malta responded in emphatic fashion, Alexandra Gatt made the space for the launch from the back, with Leah Ayres a willing runner down the left wing. The number eleven squared it to Sara Saliba who brought it under control and fired a low shot on the turn to put Malta on level terms with her first goal in senior national team colours.
The home side support were celebrating, but the team was not done just yet. With momentum shifting once more, Malta earned the lead again two minutes later. Rachel Cuschieri opted to keep a mid-pitch free-kick simple to Maria Farrugia. She roped in Rebecca Bajada who returned the pass, before the Gozitan shifted play centrally toward Leah Ayres. She combined with Sara Saliba who sensed Maria Farrugia’s continued run into the box. The forward shifted it onto her left for space before rattling the crossbar with the left-footed effort. It earned the confirmation of breaching the goal line from the referees, completing Malta’s charge back into the lead in the 82nd minute.
With the onus shifted onto Croatia, the visitors piled pressure with successive corners as they sought an immediate response with limited time left. However, Giulia D’Antuono palmed out the first, before Stephania Farrugia headed the second. The third missed everyone.
Malta looked threathening from a break, with numbers in support as Rachel Cuschieri brought out the charge. However, were undone by the ball clipping Leah Ayres’ backheel.
Nenad Gracan made a double switch, with Lucia Orkic and Lucija Vunic making way for Ivana Slipcevic and Antonia Dulcic as Sara Kankaras lifted the board signalling five minutes of injury time.
Malta were seeking to avoid heartbreak at the end against the Croatian push. Emma Lipman headed away a cross into the six-yard box, with Nicole Sciberras and Rachel Cuschieri combining to block Maja Joscak from finding space for a shot. Malta’s captain was again perfectly timed in her tackle as Ella Lustina attempted to make something late on, before Rachel Cuschieri led the charge once more releasing Sara Saliba. Doris Bacic came to clear, with Croatia mounting one last charge forward. However, Giulia D’Antuono continued to command the air with the goalkeeper collecting a final time to Emanuela Rusta’s whistle.
Final Score: Malta 3 – 2 Croatia
Next Match
The match marks Malta’s first win against Croatia. The two teams will be at it again on Monday, with kick-off set at 17:00 at the Centenary Stadium. The match will be live-streamed on the Malta FA Youtube Channel.
Lead Image:Â Brandon Bonett
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[…] Malta’s first encounter in the two friendlies to be played against Croatia presented a rollerc…It marked Malta’s first win against Croatia, a team ranked almost thirty places above it. […]