Women’s Under-19 national team loses 2-5 to Romania

The Malta women’s Under-19 national team, led by coach Frank Schembri, lost 2-5 to Romania in the second match from Group 4 of the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship Round 1 League B at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

Sonia Bumbar put Romania ahead after just five minutes and Cristina Botojel converted a penalty to double the score on the 14th minute. Ioana Balaceanu made it 3-0 on the 32nd minute but just before the end of first half, Kailey Willis reduced the gap for Malta.

Six minutes in the second half, Adina Borodi scored Romania’s fourth and a minute later, Elena Frincu added another. Substitute Izabella Camilleri scored a second goal for Malta four minutes from time.

Malta plays the third and final match from Group 4 against Georgia on Tuesday. Georgia lost 1-2 to Romania on Wednesday and drew 1-1 with Israel on Saturday.

MALTA Giulia D’Antuono, Tammy Falzon, Kailey Willis, Maya Lucia (54′ Michaela Cachia), Martina Fenech, Alexandra Gatt, Rhea Borg, Ileana Farrugia (81′ Izabella Camilleri), Yulya Carella (59′ Hannah Khatib), Mariah Cardona (54′ Martina Cortis), Veronique Mifsud.

ROMANIA Sara Campean, Ioana Simona Sigheartau, Noemi Vincze, Cristina Botojel (46′ Edvina Ciontos), Sonia Maria Bumbar, Ioana Balaceanu (67′ Daniela Alexandra Preda), Teodora Andreea Pinzariu (79′ Daiana Maria Onet), Roxana Mirea, Florentina-Camelia Iancu (57′ Gyorgyi Toth), Adina Cristina Borodi, Elena Frincu (57′ Rita Mitri).

Referee: Viki De Cremer (BEL)