The Malta women’s national team lost 1-2 to Montenegro in a friendly match at the Centenary Stadium on Thursday. 

A match between two teams who will be playing in Group E of the FIFA Women’s World Cup which gets underway in September. 

Photos: Copyright domenic aquilina/Malta FA

For this game, coach Mark Gatt deployed Janice Xuereb between the sticks with Gabriella Zahra, Stephania Farrugia, Charlene Zammit and Nicole Sciberras – making her 20th appearance – forming the backline.

Emma Lipman marshalled the backline as a defensive midfielder whereas Rachel Cuschieri and Shona Zammit completed the midfield department.

Upfront, Gatt started with Haley Bugeja, who was collecting her 10th cap and Maria Farrugia, with forward Kailey Willis making her debut.

The visitors took the lead on the 13th minute when off a cross by Kuc frim the right, Sladjana Bulatovic headed home past goalkeeper Janice Xuereb. 

Two minutes later, Montenegro doubled the score through Armisa Kuc who flicked the ball home off a cross from the left. 

Malta pulled one back on 23 minutes with a rising shot from the edge of the area by Shona Zammit which beat goalkeeper Ivana Cabarkapa. 

MALTA Janice Xuereb, Gabriella Zahra (46’ Jade Flask), Emma Lipman, Stephania Farrugia, Kailey Willis (46’ Dorianne Theuma), Rachel Cuschieri, Maria Farrugia, Shona Zammit, Charlene Zammit, Nicole Sciberras (57’ Veronique Mifsud), Haley Bugeja (46’ Emma Xuereb).

MONTENEGRO Ivana Cabarkapa, Milica Radunovic (86’ Andrea Janjusevic), Maja Saranovic, Marija Maras (69’ Aleksandra Popovic), Sladjana Bulatovic, Andjela Toskovic, Nadia Stanovic (86’ Enida Bosnjak), Jelena Karlicic (72’ Radosava Kocanovic), Armisa Kuc, Helena Bozic, Darija Djukic. 

Referee: Alex Johnson

Assistant Referees: Mark Ciantar, Ivan Galea

Fourth Official: Joanna Vassallo