Women's national team loses in Serbia

women-malta-serbia140213The Malta women’s national team suffered the seventh defeat in as many matches in Group 3 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers after losing 5-0 to Serbia at the Gradski Stadion in Indjija on Saturday.

Malta coach Pierre Brincat could not field his best formation due to the absence of a number of regular players.

Indira Ilić put the hosts ahead after just four minutes and Jelena Čanković doubled the score on 28 minutes. Three minutes from the end of the first half, Aleksandra Savanović made it 3-0.

Jovana Damnjanović picked a second yellow card for Serbia two minutes in the second half and was therefore sent off. Malta, however, failed to take advantage with the hosts increasing the lead thanks to a brace by Tijana Krstić on 67 and 74 minutes.

Malta will be in action once again on Thursday facing Iceland who had beaten Malta 8-0 in April.

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MALTA Keoney Demicoli, Francesca Chircop, Rebecca D’Agostino, Rachel Cuschieri, Brenda Borg, Antoinette Sammut (70′ Martina Borg), Mandy Debono, Stefania Farrugia (75′ Kim Parnis), Charlene Zammit, Emma Xuereb (62′ Alishia Sultana), Jade Flask.

SERBIA Susanne Nilsson, Tijana Krstić, Aleksandra Savanović, Nikoleta Nikolić, Jovana Damnjanović, Marija Ilić, Jelena Čubrilo (68′ Dina Blagojević), Milica Mijatović (63’Milica Stanković), Vesna Smiljković, Indira Ilić, Jelena Čanković (80′ Biljana Bradić).

Referee: Zuzana Kováčová (SVK)