by Malta secured a 2 – 1 victory against Georgia, while Andorra earned a late 2 – 1 win over Cyprus, which pushes Malta to the top of the table. Malta’s Rachel Cuschieri and Haley Bugeja were on the mark, while Mariam Kalandadze earned the goal for Georgia. The Georgian side also struck the crossbar. Andorra ensured a dramatic victory with another late brace by Teresa Armengol being enough to overcome Elena Aristodimou’s opener.
Team Selections
Malta’s Manuela Tesse made only one enforced change with Charlene Zammit coming in defence instead of the suspended captain Emma Lipman. She accompanied Emma Xuereb, Oceane Grange and Maya Lucia who protected Janice Xuereb in goal. Rachel Cuschieri captained the side, occupying the midfield with Shona Zammit and Nicole Sciberras. Kailey Willis continued to lead the attack, supported by Maria Farrugia and Haley Bugeja.
Iris Antman also made just one change in the team. There was faith in captain Tatia Gabunia, who was fronted by three players in Salome Gasviani, Mariam Kalandadze and Nino Chkhartishvili. Lizi Mtskerashvili came into the mix on the left wing, while Gvantsa Kadagishvili occupied the right. Natia Danelia started in midfield alongside Nino Pasikashvili and Tatiana Matveeva. Teona Bakradze led the attack with Nino Bukhrikidze.
How It Unfolded
The visitors’ support were small in number but made up for it in full voice, against the numerous Maltese stand with an average attendance of 620 attendees. Though often quiet, the home support found their voice in opportune moments in the match.
Lizi Mtskerashvili announced herself to Haley Bugeja early in the match, with the wing-back immediately landing in the book. However, the early proceedings were fairly balanced with neither side truly managing to cause too much trouble against the organised defences.
Malta started earning a higher share of possession, with the full-backs Emma Xuereb and Maya Lucia lively to get up the pitch. However, the final ball eluded the hosts with crosses into the box dealt with, while Kailey Willis’ full stretch attempt to put the finish on a second delivery by Charlene Zammit was not enough to get the touch.
Rachel Cuschieri and Maya Lucia continued in good combination on the right wing, with the latter fluid in shifting into midfield as needed to help build attacks. However, as the trend for the team continued, her attempt to release Kailey Willis was overcooked, with frustration starting to set into the Maltese side.
At the other end, Georgia managed to work themselves up the pitch earning a free-kick in midfield. The visitors took it quickly with Nino Bukhrikidze found in space and firing with venom. However, Janice Xuereb dived to get a palm on it, with Charlene Zammit making the run to avoid conceding the corner.
Having had their final warning, Malta secured the opening goal of the match following a short corner routine. Maria Farrugia cut back to Nicole Sciberras who ran into traffic. Rachel Cuschieri arrived on the scene to fire the loose ball first time with precision, lasering it into the roof of the net. The captain hung her hands high in the air as she was engulfed by the team to the backdrop of the home support’s cheers.
The officials led by Cansu Tryak were getting themselves into hot water with shaky decisions over simple throw-ins and corner kicks. However, the match wore on with Georgia’s defence holding strong against the waves of attack from Malta.
The visitors earned themselves consecutive corner kicks at the latter moments of the half. Piling pressure into the box, confusion took hold as the visitors thought the referee awarded a goal, only for Cansu Tryak to signal to a free-kick for Malta.
Half-Time Score: Malta 1 – 0 Georgia
Iris Antman made a change at the break in attack, bringing on Irina Khaburdzania instead of Nino Bukhrikidze.
Mariam Kalandadze continued to be a roack in defence for Georgia with a block against a shot from Maria Farrugia. However, the hosts pushed on, peppering the box with low crosses. Shona Zammit, Kailey Willis and Haley Bugeja were all in on the action but couldn’t manage to beat Tatia Gabunia who was determined to keep the team in it.
The visitors responded with increasing pressure. Natia Danelia pushed up against Emma Xuereb, with Tatiana Matveeva rising to meet the cross. However, the number seven did not manage to get the right connection to direct it goalward with her head.
The side earned themselves consecutive corners, but Janice Xuereb got enough on the first, before Rachel Cuschieri and Charlene Zammit dealt with the second delivery.
Irina Khaburdzania was next to try a shot from distance, with Janice Xuereb equal to the task. The home support found their voices to push the team forward as Georgia grew into the match, consistently backed by the sporadic but loud away fans.
However, Malta soaked up the pressure and launched themselves forward once more. Maria Farrugia rolled two markers before finding Rachel Cuschieri in support. She switched play to Haley Bugeja who darted inside, earning the penalty. The number twenty-one halted her run but there was no hesitancy in the finish as she placed into the bottom left corner of the net to double the lead, before running over to the home support.
Despite the adversity, Georgia did not let their foot off the gas, with an immediate push forward. Tatiana Matveeva injected inspiration as she too turned away from two markers before hanging a ball into the box. However, Nicole Sciberras retreated to head the ball to safety.
Malta’s Manuela Tesse was still urging the team forward with the side earning some major opportunities to kill off the match. Rachel Cuschieri drove another powerful effort from the edge of the box which Tatia Gabunia saved. Maria Farrugia played in the second cross, but Shona Zammit too saw her effort blocked. Gvantsa Kadagishvili did enough to intercept another whipped in ball from Rachel Cuschieri to deny Maria Farrugia the chance for the finish at the far post.
Having soaked up pressure, Georgia pushed forward. The visitors understood the task with shouts earning more whistles from Cansu Tryak. Lizi Mtskerashvili hung a free-kick into the box but Nicole Sciberras made the clearance, while Malta was not precise with the counter-attack to release Maria Farrugia.
Teona Bakradze continued being a handful, skipping past three players before laying it for Natia Danelia. However, Charlene Zammit was brave with the block, although the Georgian team and support were straight into the officials faces in appeals for handsball and a penalty award. However, the officials waived play on.
Malta responded with a quick transition as Maria Farrugia charged into space, before finding Haley Bugeja to her left. However, the number twenty-one did not manage to open up her body enough to find the width in the shot, with Tatia Gabunia comfortable on the save.
Both coaches opted to make changes for the final ten minutes. Alishia Cassar took to the pitch instead of Kailey Willis up front for Malta, while Maiko Bebia replaced Nino Pasikashvili.
Maiko Bebia was immediately in on the action, causing trouble for Malta up the left wing, before switching side to Teona Bakradze. She managed the shot, but Janice Xuereb stuck out a foot to deny the goal at the far post. Irina Khaburdzania was next to come closest, striking the crossbar following a corner delivery.
However, the persistence was rewarded, with Mariam Kalandadze placing home the finish in the 83rd minute from a free-kick delivery by Lizi Mtskerashvili.
The home support was deflated for a second before roaring against the visitors’ vocal support, urging the side home to victory. Tension rose in the stands as Malta faced increasing pressure as they played with ten while Maya Lucia was sidelined following a foul. However, the home side saw away the threat to ensure the three points.
Final Score: Malta 2 – 1 Georgia
Standings & Next Matches
Malta rise to the top of the group on nine points, as Cyprus fell to 2 – 1 defeat to Andorra. A first half-opener by Cyprus’ Elena Aristodimou was cancelled by two late goals from Andorra’s Teresa Armengol, who continued her goalscoring form for the team.
The UEFA Women’s Nations League returns at the end of May. Malta will welcome Cyprus for a direct confrontation for promotion at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on the 30th of May at 19:00 CET, while Andorra will host Georgia.
Until then, players head back to club duties for the final stretches of the domestic seasons.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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