Northern Ireland Start Promotion Chase With Strong Victory Over Malta

The Northern Ireland have started their bid to return to League A with a 5-1 victory over Malta in the UEFA Women’s U17 EURO Qualifications Round 2. Rhianna Breen and Niamh Boothroyd opened a strong lead early on. Francesca Bartolo gave Malta a lifeline, before Gracie Conway extended once more. Bernadette Ferreira came on from the bench to fire a brace to seal the victory for Northern Ireland.

Team Selections

Malta’s Vince Galea selected Maya Muscat to start between the goalposts. She was protected by a back four consisting of Francesca Bartolo, Aisha Micallef, Thea Ida Scicuna and Amber Grech. Ema Micallef started in midfield alongside Stella Francalanza. Captain Lexine Farrugia started in the number ten role, flanked by Nyorah Celeste and Kaysia Micallef. Sara Saliba led the line.

Northern Ireland’s Gail Redmond started with Abbie Smith in goal. Daisy Conway partnered Ellen Hampton in the heart of the defence, with the two flanked by Niamh Hassan and Olivia Best. Captain Darcie McNeill started in the centre of the park, in the company of Mia Moore and Clodagh Maguire. In attack, Rhianna Breen was flanked by Niamh Boothroyd and Gracie Conway.

Northern Ireland’s Surge Halted By Malta

The Northern Ireland meant business from the off, pressing high to earn an opener in the 5th minute. Rhianna Breen was rewarded for keeping up the chase, blocking the goalkeeper’s clearance which deflected into goal.

The team in green continued searching for more with Rhianna Breen testing Maya Muscat with a weak effort shortly after, which the goalkeeper was alert to. Although Malta looked to settle into a rhythm, the Northern Ireland doubled the score on the quarter hour mark. Niamh Boothroyd cut inside from the left wing to fire a spectacular effort which flew into the far right corner.

Danger loomed once more for Malta’s defence as the twentieth minute rolled in. Rhianna Breen volleyed from a loose clearance, before Olivia Best tried to put the finishing touch. However, Maya Muscat and Thea Idea Scicluna did just enough between them to throw her off. Rhianna Breen was on her bike once more, drifiting to the right wing before flashing a low cross. However, Maya Muscat commanded the six-yard box to intercept the low ball.

Instead Malta responded with a goal in the 24th minute to give themselves a way back into the match. Francesca Bartolo won the team a corner, and was the one to head home Lexine Farrugia’s launch into the box, with the two former teammates combining for the goal.

However, the Northern Ireland restored the two-goal lead just three minutes later. Olivia Best made a charge forward, finding Niamh Boothroy who whipped a ball into the box for Gracie Conway to head home.

Stella Francalanza won the ball well in midfield to send Nyorah Celeste into space on the right flank. However, her cross was well dealt with by Ellen Hampton. Northern Ireland fended off two corner kicks from Malta with Abbie Smith doing well to save a combined header from Sara Saliba and Nyorah Celeste.

The home team continued searching for a way back, into the final ten minutes. Kaysia Micallef won the ball in midfield before surging into space on the wing and crossing into the box. However, Niamh Hassan intercepted the ball to make a short clearance. Stella Francalanza’s effort to set up a rebound shot allowed Ellen Hampton to get distance into the clearance. Nyorah Celeste was next to win the ball in midfield, but shrugged off it quickly by the Irish defence, denying the time for the shot.

Lexine Farrugia won the team a free-kick with the opportunity to deliver into the box but the Irish remained untroubled. The captain opened up the space in midfield in the final five minutes, finding Kaysia Micallef wide. However, her attempt to link in Sara Saliba allowed Northern Ireland to surge forward through Mia Moore. She could not exploit the space behind the defence, instead finding only Maya Muscat.

Still, the attack inspired more energy into Northern Ireland, who surged forward again through Mia Moore. However, Amber Galea cut across to block the shot from inside the penalty box. Northern Ireland had a goal ruled offside before Malta attempted to make something from a late corner that did not pay off.

The Irish Extend Late In The Match

Malta’s Sara Saliba took a kncok which ended her involvement in the match, and was replaced by Maia Gauci at half-time. Gauci slotted on the wing, pushing Nyorah Celeste into the centre of attack. Zoe Knox replaced Clodagh Maguire for the Northern Ireland.

Neither side could trouble from set-pieces in the opening stages of the second half. Meanwhile, Rhianna Breen looked to laser a shot into the near post, but just found the outside netting. Zoe Knox made a blistering run from midfield and into the box, but the low shot lacked the venom to trouble Maya Muscat.

The hour mark presented more changes from both teams. Northern Ireland’s goalscorers Rhianna Breen and Niamh Boothroyd making way for Bernadette Ferreira and Sophie Bradley. Meanhwhile, Malta’s Nyorah Celeste gave way to Amelia Vassallo who slotted in the number ten role, while pushing Lexine Farrugia as the attacker. Amber Galea swapped with Leanne Frendo.

The windy conditions persisted with the corner kick tally going up for both teams. Northern Ireland’s Ellen Hampton came close to increasing the scoring from one but saw her effort creep just wide of the mark.

Kaysia Micallef took a knock and was replaced by Suzanne Farrugia Sacco for the final quarter of an hour. Meanwhile, Jessica McGuiness replaced Darcie McNeill.

Bernadette Ferreira made good on her appearance, finding Northern Ireland’s fourth in the 84th minute. Daisy Conway split a pass through the midfield, to find Ferreira. She flicked the ball away from her marker before firing a shot across toward the bottom right corner from outside the box. Ferreira doubled her tally just two minutes later, cutting onto her left boot and bending it into the far corner of the goal to wrap up the victory for her nation.

Malta’s Lexine Farrugia was replaced by Lisa Calleja for the final few minutes of the match, with Francesca Bartolo taking the captain’s armband. The Irish continued to search for an extension to their lead, but a short corner attempt was marshalled away, before Maya Muscat gobbled up a cross from Sophie Bradley.

Final Score: Malta 1 – 5 Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland will next face Luxembourg on Saturday at 11:00, at the Centenary Stadium. Malta will return to action against Luxembourg on Tuesday 27th at the same time and location.

Lead Image: Joe Borg

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