Malta Edge Closer To Promotion After Unblemished Win Over Andorra

Malta secured a 3-0 win over Andorra, thanks to a hat-trick by Haley Bugeja. Rachel Cuschieri and Stephania Farrugia grab the assists, while Bugeja also converted one of the goals from the penalty spot. Janice Xuereb and Charlene Zammit denied Andorra’s Teresa Armengol a consolation goal in the final throes of the match.

Line-Ups

Andorra’s Jose Antonio Martin made two changes to the starting eleven from those that faced Malta on Friday. Maria Tizon Fernandez was one of the new names in the first eleven, who supported Maria Ruzafa in attack. Noa Gallinat Civico was the second player to get herself into the starting eleven who slotted into the left wing.

Meanwhile, Malta’s Manuela Tesse also made two changes in her starting eleven. Charlene Zammit started the match at right-back instead of Emma Xuereb who dropped to the bench. Meanwhile, following her strong return from injury on Friday, Maria Farrugia started in the left-wing role ahead of Alishia Sultana.

Weak Opening

There was little goal-threat early on, with two sides locked in a game of cat and mouse with neither able to worry the opposing goalkeeper too much. However, twenty minutes in, Malta’s Rachel Cuschieri tried to cajole the visitors into a threat by teasing a ball over the top to pick out Ylenia Carabott. However, the striker was not able to get her shot away following defensive pressure. The ball rolled into the box, with the goalkeeper Luna Marcet getting there first.

At the other end, Maria Ruzafa tried to get onto a long-ball, but found Emma Lipman in close proximity. Malta’s captain was happy to put the ball out for a throw-in, which set the tone for the match for the two.

With the opening half getting into the mid-way point and her team unable to make much headway, Malta’s coach Manuela Tesse could be heard delivering a list of instructions. They included swapping out Haley Bugeja and Maria Farrugia out wide.

Haley Bugeja ignited some spark in the 26th minute, turning away from three markers before striking from a tight angle. However, she saw her strike fly over the bar. At the other end, Andorra earned themselves a good opportunity to test the goalkeeper close to the half-hour mark after Laia Sin won free-kick out on the right wing, as she looked to get the better of Ann-Marie Said. The number five almost sent her team into the lead after connecting with Erica Goncalves’ delivery, but Malta were let off the hook.

A Seven-Minute Hat-Trick

Meanwhile, Malta’s Ann-Marie Said attempted to find the top corner with a curled free-kick from distance. However, the goalkeeper kept her eye on the ball and shifted to get behind it.

A few minutes later, Rachel Cuschieri struck from the edge of the box after playing a neat combination with Maria Farrugia. Though the attempt fizzed away, the 36th minute led the two to combine once more to create the opening goal. Rachel Cuschieri ran into the space to receive a quick return from Maria Farrugia, before curling a low ball across the defence. Haley Bugeja arrived at the far post and placed a left-footed finish to get Malta into the lead.

Having found the first goal, Malta flooded forward with confidence. Haley Bugeja earned her team a free-kick following a foul by Neus Rosas which set off things for the second goal. Rachel Cuschieri delivered from the left-wing, into the six-yard box but Maria Da Cruz cleared for a corner. Cuschieri took charge of the delivery once more. Although Da Cruz got her head on the ball, the clearance did not have enough distance. Instead Stephania Farrugia won the second ball, heading it toward Haley Bugeja who put a left boot to nestle the ball into the near corner for hers and Malta’s second goal.

The in-form forward won her team a penalty kick a minute later after latching onto a long-ball and deemed to have been fouled as she attempted to dribble past the goalkeeper. Bugeja made it a quick hat-trick by converting from the spot in the 43rd minute, with a strike into the roof of the net.

Half-Time Score: Andorra 0 – 3 Malta

Malta Unable To Pick Up Scoring Momentum

Andorra’s Jose Antonio Martin made one change at the break, bringing on debutant Julia Domingo Fuentes in replacement of Laia Sin. The number twenty slotted in midfield, with Maria Tizon Fernandez pushing into the central attack. Maria Ruzafa shifted to the right wing. Noa Gallinat Civico was lively on the restart, delivering a cross-shot which was just ahead of Maria Ruzafa who would otherwise have had an easy tap-in.

Malta continued enjoying the majority of possession. Maria Farrugia was released with a dinked ball over the defence but could not get the right weight when attempting to lob the goalkeeper. The visitors had another opportunity to test the Andorran defence as Brenda Borg was clipped while releasing Haley Bugeja. Although the advantage could have been played, the referee opted to pull back play and brandished a booking to Da Cruz for the challenge. The free-kick delivery toward Stephania Farrugia almost paid dividends but the defender miscued the finish, before Ylenia Carabott and Maria Farrugia got entangled relieving pressure for the visitors.

The home side had an opportunity to get forward with a free-kick. However, it did not get past the first player, although Maria Ruzafa did well to pick up the pieces and earn her team a corner. The ball was delivered deep toward the far post but Malta’s defence cleared without too much pressure once more.

The hour mark saw both coaches look to their bench. Malta’s Ylenia Carabott made way for Kailey Willis, while Rachel Cuschieri was replaced by Dorianne Theuma. Andorra’s Maria Tizon Fernandez was replaced by Laia Sole Palau, while Sonia Del Barco was replaced by Teresa Armengol.

The home team’s Marina Fernandez struck hard from a long-range free-kick a few minutes into the hour. The strike was heading for the top corner but Janice Xuereb shifted well to collect. Malta’s Haley Bugeja ran off on the counter, releasing Kailey Willis who drifted out wide. However, her cross was seen away by the Andorran defence.

Andorra had another venture up the pitch through Maria Ruzafa who was outnumbered on the wing, before Julia Domingo won a free-kick in midfield. Marina Fernandez delivered deep into the box toward Teresa Armengol, but Janice Xuereb claimed the ball to relieve pressure. The visitors’ Dorianne Theuma and Maria Farrugia linked on the left wing for Farrugia to cross into the box, but the hosts cleared the ball easily enough.

The 71st minute led to Malta’s next switches, as Alishia Sultana made an appearance off the bench in replacement of Maria Farrugia. Meanwhile, Ann-Marie Said was given an early rest by Emma Xuereb. Andorra won themselves another free-kick shortly after which was whipped into the box with venom, but just ahead of Maria Da Cruz. The defender and Malta’s goalkeeper both needed some treatment after colliding against each other.

Andorra Denied Consolation Goal

Jose Antonio Martin decided to give Maria Ruzafa an early rest, following another frustrating evening for the forward. She was replaced by Iria Dominguez in the 77th minute. The energy appeared to have fizzed out of the match as Malta recycled the ball in front of Andorra, while the hosts focused on maintaining their shape behind the ball. However, the home side sprang into a high-press in the 81st minute which forced Janice Xuereb to clear for a throw-in. Despite this, they were unable to threaten from the opportunity.

Malta made one final substitution in midfield as Brenda Borg gave way to Veronique Mifsud in the 85th minute. The hosts had another chance to get something from the game from another dead-ball situation but it slipped away once more. Jose Antonio Martin made another change in the 87th minute, with Noa Gallinat Civico giving way to Lucia Culleres Soto.

The substitute got into the action immediately by delivering a cross into the box which Emma Xuereb cleared away. Haley Bugeja darted up the pitch looking to get something from a counter-attack, but was thwarted by Maria Da Cruz. The defender also took a bit of Bugeja who appeared to be winded following the challenge. Emma Lipman got her head on the resulting corner but the header skimmed wide of the mark.

The hosts tried to finish the match on a high and were almost rewarded twice. They earned themselves an opportunity to put the ball into the box as Teresa Armengol was impeded by Stephania Farrugia just on the edge of the area. She struck sweetly forcing a save from Janice Xuereb at the near post.

The substitute almost got her team a goal a few minutes later connecting with a delivery from Erica Goncalves. She chested the ball down for the strike, but Charlene Zammit blocked the shot before Janice Xuereb clutched the loose pickings.

Full-Time Score: Andorra 0 – 3 Malta

Standings

The win sees Malta bag all six points from the two reverse fixtures, while finishing the second international window still unbeaten and without having conceded a goal in the competition. Thus, Malta retain top spot with less pressure from current second-place, Latvia, who were held to a 3-3 draw by Moldova earlier in the day.

The Moldovan side earned their first point but will feel hard-done by having let slip three points in the final minutes of the match, as Latvia made a late comeback from 3-1 down. It was a chaotic encounter that featured two red-cards, a penalty and unfortunately two major injuries for Moldova.

Latvia will have their work cut out for them in the upcoming window and even then, it may not be enough. They need to win both their remaining encounters against Andorra and Malta, while hoping that Malta also lose against Moldova, to pip themselves to first place in the group. Should Malta draw against Moldova, while Latvia win both remaining encounters, then it will be a matter of the goal difference in the direct confrontations as the two sides would be equal on points. Meanwhile, another win would make Malta mathematically unbeatable at the top of the table.

Lead Image: Ivan Moure / Andorra FA

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