A depleted Malta women’s national team lost 5-0 to Iceland in another match from Group 3 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium in Reykjavik on Thursday. A win which enables them to stay in second place, one point ahead of Denmark.

Coach Pierre Brincat could not count on the experienced Dorianne Theuma, Rachel Cuschieri, Ylenia Carabott, Nicole Buttigieg, Mandy Debono and Emma Xuereb for this game.

Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir put the hosts ahead on 12 minutes and Elín Jensen doubled the score eight minutes later. Captain Dóra Maria Lárusdóttir made it 3-0 five minutes from the end of the first half. Dagný Brynjarsdóttir increased the lead on 64 minutes with Elín Jensen sealing the issue with a fifth goal four minutes from time.

Malta will now play Denmark away from home on September 13 before hosting group winners Switzerland on September 17 in their final match.

ICELAND Thóra Helgadóttir, Glódís Viggósdóttir, Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir (73′ Sara Bjork Gunnarsdóttir), Dóra Maria Lárusdóttir, Hallbera Gísladóttir, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, Anna Bjork Kristjansdóttir, Thórunn Jónsdóttir (60′ Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir), Elisa Vidarsdóttir, Fanndís Fridriksdóttir (86′ Rakel Hönnudóttir), Elín Jensen.

MALTA Keoney Demicoli, Francesca Chircop (77′ Brenda Borg), Natasha Pace (86′ Dionne Tonna), Rebecca D’Agostino, Antoinette Sammut (74′ Gabriella Zahra), Shona Zammit, Stefania Farrugia, Charlene Zammit, Kim Parnis, Alishia Sultana, Jade Flask.

Referee: Séverine Zinck (FRA)

Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar