Women’s national team lose narrowly to Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Malta women’s national team lost 1-0 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in another match from Group E of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the FF BH Football Training Centre in Zenica on Tuesday afternoon.

Both teams had their fair share of goal-scoring opportunities with Malta failing to capitalise on three major chances in the first 45 minutes that could have turned the tides of the game to their favour.

Bosnia and Herzegovina now join Malta on the four-point mark. Malta will be in action in April with two back-to-back home fixtures against Denmark and Russia before the final two matches at home against Azerbaijan and away to Montenegro.

The hosts went close with attempts by Milena Nikolic and Dajana Spasojevic which were neutralised by Xuereb and Malta had a good opportunity but Rachel Cuschieri failed to connect. Haley Bugeja then missed another good chance for Malta and attempts by Spasojevic and Jelena Koprena were parried by the Malta goalkeeper.

Bosnia Herzegovina took the lead on the 36th minute with Maja Jelcic hitting home off a corner.

Malta went close to equalising with a Rachel Cuschieri effort from the edge of the area.

After going close through Emma Lipman, Sofija Krajsumovic had a fine attempt deflected into a corner and Malta then threatened once again through Haley Bugeja. The Malta goalkeeper performed two good saves on Nikolic and Krajsumovic was then unlucky to hit the crossbar.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Envera Hasanbegovic; Melisa Hasanbegovic, Dajana Spasojevic (54 Dula Velagic), Marija Milinkovic, Milena Nikolic, Selma Kapetanovic, Maja Jelcic (90 Nikolina Milovic), Ena Taslidza (62 Minela Gacanica), Jelena Koprena (90 Ana Bojanic), Sofija Krajsumovic, Gloria Sliskovic. 

MALTA Janice Xuereb; Ann-Marie Said, Emma Lipman, Stephania Farrugia, Dorianne Theuma (67 Emma Xuereb), Rachel Cuschieri, Shona Zammit, Charlene Zammit, Brenda Borg (46 Maria Farrugia), Nicole Sciberras, Haley Bugeja. 

Referee: Gamze Durmus Pakkan (TUR)