Malta U19s Win Qualification Match Against Armenia

Malta outshone their hosts Armenia with a comfortable score of 1-4 in Round 2 of qualifying in the UEFA Euro Women’s Under-19 Championship. Captain Alexandra Gatt opened the score from the spot early in the match. Sara Saliba scored a brace, while Lexine Farrugia also found the net. Armenia got a goal back in injury time through Tatev Khachatryan after being reduced to ten.

Early Goal Settles the Nerves for the Visitors

Armenia started the game with a high press that was causing trouble for the Maltese team in the early moments of the match. However, the visitors were the most incisive with their play. In fact, the penalty came after Malta made their first entry into the Armenian penalty box, as Yulya Carella outpaced the defense and was fouled after getting the better of the goalkeeper.

Captain Alexandra Gatt was calm and collected from the spot, choosing placement over power to beat Armenian goalkeeper Lilit Babayan who guessed the right way but could not get enough on the ball. The early goal settled the nerves for the visitors who then focused on winning the ball in midfield.

A chance for the second came in the 9^th minute as Sarah Vella Barberi recovered the ball in midfield and skipped past three players to then release Lexine Farrugia on the wing. However, Farrugia’s cross lacked enough curl to find Sara Saliba’s run, allowing the keeper to relieve pressure.

Malta Slot in the Second

The home team started to gain some momentum in the match but this was firmly halted again by Sara Saliba who grabbed the second goal for Malta after a quarter of an hour of play. Malta worked hard off the ball to win possession in midfield as Sarah Vella Barberi deflected to ball into the path of Alexandra Gatt who in turn headed it forward to Lexine Farrugia transitioning into attack. The winger immediately released Sara Saliba behind the defence and the striker struck the ball into the bottom right corner with her left foot.

The best chance of the half for Armenia came in the 41^st minute when a cross launched from the left wing found Isabela Nersesian who left-footed the ball on the volley, but the Maltese backline deflected it for a corner. Malta responded with a chance of their own as Yulya Carella ran free from the defence. She pinged the ball to Lexine Farrugia at the far post who had too much to do to direct it goalward. On looking at the replay the better option would have been to play a low ball into Sara Saliba who was free in the box.

Half-Time Score: Armenia 0 – 2 Malta

Malta Extend the Lead

The hosts started the second half a bit brighter and came close to netting their first goal in the 49^th minute after Isabela Nersesian delivered a dangerous ball towards the far-post. Despite plenty of runners getting free from the Maltese back-line, none could get a touch to trouble the keeper.

On the other hand, the visitors dealt another blow to the hosts in the 57^th minute, this time through Lexine Farrugia. The chance came from a free-kick which Alexandra Gatt took charge of. Her strike was met by the Armenian goalkeeper who despite being well positioned could not hold the ball, allowing Farrugia to head in the rebound for Malta’s third.

Both sides had other chances with Malta almost capitalising on a well-worked corner in the 71st minute, while Milena Sayadyan also threatened with pace but was marshalled away by Georgiana Mifsud. Sayadyan also threatened with an inswinging corner but this was caught by Malta goalkeeper Raisa Costantino. Armenia’s substitute Tatev Khachatryan struck in the 82^nd minute but was wide of the mark

The fourth goal for Malta came in the 85^th minute from another set-piece, with Alexandra Gatt teeing off Sara Saliba who headed the ball into the net, despite the Armenian keeper getting something on the ball.

Armenia Get a Goal Back

Things took a turn for the worse for the hosts as Rozalina Yeritsyan received a second yellow for pushing Sarah Vella Barberi and subsequently kicking the ball away after the referee gave a free-kick to the visitors.

However, substitute Tatev Khachatryan gave Armenia some joy in injury time by getting a goal back after the Maltese goalkeeper fluffed the clearance, handing the ball to the Armenian who chipped the ball into the net.

Full-Time Score: Armenia 1 – 4 Malta

The next group match will be played between Malta and the Faroe Islands, which will take place next Friday 7^th April at noon, at the City Stadium in Abovyan.