Moldova and Malta Share Points In Goalless Stalemate

Malta were held to the first draw in the competition, taking their tally to thirteen points at the top. The Moldovan side held on despite playing the final ten minutes with ten players. The result means that Group C1 will be decided on the final match-day, next Tuesday.

Team Selection

Moldova’s Margarita Panova retained her place in goal after her strong display against Latvia in the previous round. Felicia Gutu continued to partner Madalina Badiceanu in the centre of defence. Valeria Virlan retained her place in the left of the defence, while Anastasia Sivolobova returned to the first eleven on the right. Anastasia Cernitu started alongside Anastasia Toma, in the absence of captain Cristina Cerescu, while Nadejda Colescnicenco started further forward. Claudia Chiper captained the side and started in her preferred wide left role, while Carolina Tabur occupied the right. Veronica Cojuhari retained her place up front.

Meanwhile, there was just one change for Malta from the line-up that triumphed over Andorra in the previous round. Janice Xuereb started in goal, protected by the duo of captain Emma Lipman and Stephania Farrugia. Emma Xuereb returned on the right of the defence, while Ann-Marie Said continued her stay on the left. Rachel Cuschieri was in the company of Nicole Sciberras and Brenda Borg in midfield. The trio of Ylenia Carabott, Haley Bugeja and Maria Farrugia led the attack.

How It Unfolded

Malta took charge of possession early in the match. Maria Farrugia won a free-kick for Malta within the first minute with a good opportunity to put the ball into the box. Rachel Cuschieri attempted to pick out Haley Bugeja, but there was slightly too much height on the ball for her to get her head on it.

Malta next tried to get their noses in front from a corner, but Haley Bugeja could not flick Ann-Marie Said’s delivery goal-ward. Another half-chance developed as Emma Lipman fizzed a forward ball close to the quarter-hour mark, but Ylenia Carabott could not get on the end of it, allowing Margarita Panova to collect untroubled.

Moldova’s Anastasia Sivolobova tried to get something going forward, pinging a forward ball, but Janice Xuereb came out to collect. Malta’s Maria Farrugia burst forward on the counter-attack once more, feeding Haley Bugeja. The forward made some space but saw the shot skim wide from the tight angle.

Twenty minutes into the encounter Malta got themselves into trouble by squandering possession cheaply. Claudia Chiper capitalised with a dart forward before letting fly a shot, forcing Janice Xuereb into a low save. Moldova’s Anastasia Toma attempted to convert by firing a shot from the resulting corner, but it fizzed above the crossbar.

Malta responded with successive corners, but could not open the scoring. Meanwhile, Claudia Chiper was again on her bike in a counter-attack but Rachel Cuschieri got back to recover possession in a key battle that unfolded throughout the match.

The scrappy battle ensued, with neither side able to develop any real chances. However, Haley Bugeja earned Malta a free-kick just outside the area in the 42nd minute. Rachel Cuschieri let fly aiming for the top left corner, but had too much power in the shot.

Moldova got a real opportunity to open the scoring after a miscued clearance from Malta which let Carolina Tabur free on goal in the closing stages of the first-half. However, Janice Xuereb closed in to block the shot well, before Malta’s defence cleared.

Half-Time Score: Moldova 0 – 0 Malta

Malta’s Manuela Tesse made one change at the break, bringing on Alishia Sultana instead of Ylenia Carabott. Sultana slotted on the right, pushing Maria Farrugia in the centre of attack.

Maria Farrugia developed the best opportunity of the match just minutes into the half, after winning the ball high up the pitch. She cut-back to an unmarked Rachel Cuschieri whose effort skimmed just above the crossbar, letting the Moldovans off the hook.

The visitors developed a good counter-attack with Ann-Marie Said intercepting a long-ball, which Nicole Sciberras fed into Haley Bugeja. The forward skipped past the challenges but her cross was blocked. Brenda Borg made a mirroring run on the left wing a few minutes later, but she too saw her delivery thwarted by the Moldovan defence. Emma Xuereb won Malta an opportunity to deliver into the box in the 55th minute, which Rachel Cuschieri delivered into Haley Bugeja but the forward could not head goal-ward.

Moldova got a good attack going through Anastasia Toma who rode a challenge in midfield before picking out Carolina Tabur. However, Moldova’s number ten saw her effort go wide of the mark from the tight angle. Although rare, the chance encouraged the home crowd who upped the volume of support for their team.

Nicolae Bunea made a change on the hour mark, bringing on Cristina Musteata instead of Anastasia Cernitu. The tussle continued as Claudia Chiper made a good dart up the pitch before finding Carolina Tabur. However, her cross was dealt with by Emma Lipman.

Rachel Cuschieri was next to try to thread a ball through to Haley Bugeja who carried forward but was blocked by Madalina Badiceanu. Cuschieri and Nicole Sciberras both attempted strikes from distance but neither could work Margarita Panova. Nicolae Bunea made another switch in the 77th minute, taking off Veronica Cojuhari, while bringing on Mihaela Catarau.

The visitors continued on their charge as Malta’s Alishia Sultana was picked out by Haley Bugeja in the box, but Sultana’s effort was blocked for a corner by Valeria Virlan. Margarita Panova made the delivery hers.

The home side faced mounting pressure as Felicia Gutu was sent off following a second booking after clipping Haley Bugeja, resulting in Moldova playing with ten for the final ten minutes of the match. Despite this, Claudia Chiper continued leading from the front with an inspired dart, but she was thwarted by Rachel Cuschieri once more.

Manuela Tesse played another card by bringing on Kailey Willis in replacement of Maria Farrugia for the final three minutes. The substitute Kailey Willis knocked down a delivery for Haley Bugeja, but the latter saw her effort was blocked for a corner. Emma Lipman rose to meet Cuschieri’s delivery but her effort sailed above the bar.

Nicolae Bunea continued taking time away from the match toward an important point by making another substitution bringing off Carolina Tabur who was replaced by Elina Coceanovschi. The home side burst forward with a counter-attack late in the match, through Anastasia Toma, but the final pass lacked the necessary accuracy to trouble the visitors.

Final Score: Moldova 0 – 0 Malta

Standings & Next Matches

The result means that Malta still lead the group with thirteen points but the promotion spot will be decided on the final match-day when Malta welcome Latvia at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’ Qali. A draw or win will be enough for Malta to be promoted.

Moldova take their tally to two points and will look to lift themselves off the bottom of the table when they meet Andorra. The two matches will be played on December 5th at 16:00. Tickets for the home match between Malta and Latvia are on sale.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri

Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X