by Malta’s U17 Women’s National Team won their final match in Round 1 over Azerbaijan by 4-1. Azerbaijan’s Khanim Asadova broke the deadlock, before Malta initiated a come-back through a goal by Kaysia Micallef, followed by a brace by Lexine Farrugia and a goal by Sara Saliba. Croatia ensured themselves promotion by beating Luxembourg to top the group, but Malta could still get promotion depending on results elsewhere.
Team News
Malta’s Vince Galea made just one change from the first eleven that won the fixture against Luxembourg on Thursday. Erika Muscat retained her place in between the sticks. Maia Gauci was given the nod ahead of Leanne Frendo for the match, while Thea Scicluna, Ylenia Azzopardi and Ilona Abela kept their places in the starting eleven. The midfield trio of Amelia Vassallo, Ema Micallef and Francesca Bartolo also continued their work in the centre of the park, while Kaysia Micallef, Nyorah Celeste and Lexine Farrugia maintained their places up front.
Azerbaijan’s Nargiz Gurbanova retained faith in Nargiz Aghaliyeva in goal as in the previous two fixtures. In fact, the team featured only one change from the line-up that faced Croatia, with Adelina Agayeva replacing Ella Amirova. Captain Masuma Nazarli retained her place together with Agyun Novruzova, Parishan Abdullayeva, Arzu Javarova, Laman Aliyeva, Vahida Alipashayeva, Badriyya Mavludova and Islamova Ulviyya. They all started all the matches for their country. Meanwhile, Khanim Asadova made her second start, after having been benched in the match against Croatia.
All Level At The Break
Malta were the first to work the opposing goalkeeper through Lexine Farrugia who tested Nargiz Aghaliyeva in the opening minutes. The captain also linked with Nyorah Celeste through a corner kick but the latter could not find the target.
Having emerged from those attacks unscathed, Azerbaijan responded with ruthlessness through Khanim Asadova who opened the scoring in the fourth minute. She was assisted by Parishan Abdullayeva. The scorer was almost on the money a second time from a corner six minutes later, but could not find the net.
Both sides had a number of attempts, including through direct free-kick opportunities but neither could find the net. However, Malta kept their resolve and found their equaliser through Kaysia Micallef who linked with Lexine Farrugia for the leveller.
Erika Muscat and Nargiz Aghaliyeva were worked as the two sides fought for the lead once more, but both goalkeepers came out on top, sending the teams locked level into the break.
Malta Dominates The Second Half
Both coaches made changes ahead of the restart. Vince Galea brought on Aisha Micallef instead of club mate Ilona Abela, while Nyorah Celeste also gave way to Sara Saliba up front. Azerbaijan’s Natella Mammadova’s introduction was the only change for the team, who made her first appearance in the competition. She replaced Laman Aliyeva.
The Maltese did not take long to settle and nudged themselves into the lead through a corner kick two minutes into the half. Lexine Farrugia found the net by converting from Ema Micallef’s delivery.
Galea’s side continued to attack in search of extending their margin but attempts by Amelia Vassallo and Kaysia Micallef both lacked the necessary accuracy to trouble the goalkeeper. However, Malta kept up their attacking resolve and Lexine Farrugia made it two for herself and three for the team in the fifty-second minute.
Having seen her team fall two goals behind in a span of five minutes, Nargiz Gurbanova made two changes in the fifty-seventh minute. Firuza Bayramova replaced the goalkeeper Nargiz Aghaliyeva, while Natella Mammadova’s appearance from the bench was short-lived as she was replaced by Ella Amirova.
Despite this, Azerbaijan still could not force control over the match and Sara Saliba made it four for Malta in the 63rd minute. Ema Micallef grabbed her second assist of the match, while Saliba made it two goals out of two appearances in the competition.
It was one way traffic as Malta continued force their way forward, registering a number of attempts by the forward trio and also one by Ylenia Azzopardi. The seventieth minute saw Vince Galea look to his bench once more, bringing on Stella Francalanza who replaced club mate Maia Gauci. Ten minutes later Lisa Calleja and Leanne Frendo also made an appearance from the bench, replacing Amelia Vassallo and Thea Scicluna, respectively.
Kaysia Micallef tested Firuza Bayramova in the final ten minutes of the match before Azerbaijan made their final throws of the dice through the goalscorer Khanim Asadova. However, her attempts to get the team forward where impeded by Stella Francalanza and Lexine Farrugia who were happy to concede the free-kicks and run down the clock toward victory.
Final Score: Malta 4 – 1 Azerbaijan
Round Up of Group B3
The victory completes the commitments of the teams for Round 1 in Group B3. Croatia topped the group with a perfect three wins out of three matches, after also beating Luxembourg by 3-0 today. The Croatians will thus return to League A in Round 2, having conceded zero goals along the way and scored nineteen.
Malta take second place in the group with six points following their victories over Luxembourg and Azerbaijan. Getting the runner-up position in their group means that Malta could still get promoted into League A depending on results in the other groups in League B. This is since the runners-up with the best results against the first and third place would also be promoted. Those in League A Round 2 will battle to go into the finals of the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship to be held in Sweden in May.
The second-placed finish marks a strong return by the country following a two-year absence from the competition. Third-place in group B3 goes to Luxembourg, who are followed by Azerbaijan.
Lead Image: Malta FA
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