The Malta Beach Soccer national team, led by Marco Casarsa, ended its commitments in the twelfth place in the Euro Beach Soccer League 2022 – Division B which was played in Chisinau, Moldova.
This was the first ever competition for the Malta Beach Soccer national team.
Malta was drawn in Group A along with Moldova, Romania and England.
In the first match against hosts Moldova, which also marked the debut for Marco Casarsa’s side, Malta lost 4-1. The hosts took a three-goal lead through Negara, Ignat and Florea but goalkeeper Ryan Caruana reduced the gap for Malta with Moldova restoring a three-goal lead with a goal by Cojocari.
In the second game, Malta went close to obtaining a positive result, losing only on penalties to Romania following a 4-4 draw. Saturday Nanapere and Brandon Bray put Malta two goals ahead but goals by Zaharia and Liviu restored equilibrium. Romania forged ahead through Posteuca but Dylan Caruana levelled matters and Lee Joe Schembri made it 4-3 for Malta. However Liviu scored for Romania to force the penalty shoot-out. Ravoiu, Peteuca and Zaharia scored for Romania with Nanapere scoring the only goal for Malta.
In the last group game, Malta lost 2-5 to England. Clarke put England ahead and although Dylan Caruana equalised Clarke and Camara put England 3-1 ahead. An own goal by Dylan Caruana enabled England to increase the lead and although Caruana scored a secpond goal for Malta, Clarke made it 5-2.
Finishing bottom of Group A, Malta entered the play-offs for the 9th to the 12th place.
Malta faced Georgia who had finished bottom of Group C, losing 5-6. Dylan Caruana opened the account for Malta but Lomidze equalised. Andre Joe Cutajar made it 2-1 for Malta but Partenadze levelled matters and after Ryan Caruana scored Malta’s third, Moldova equalised once again through Gocha Makharadze. Diakvnishvili handed Georgia the lead for the first time. Saturday Nanapere levelled matters for a 4-4 score. Diakvnishvili made it 5-4 for Georgia and although Joseph Paul Zammit made it 5-5, Georgia notched the winner through Khvicha Makharadze.
On Sunday, Malta, therefore, faced Lithuania in the play-off for the 11th place. The Lithuanians took a six-goal lead thanks to Plytnikas, Navickas, Giedraitis, Makutunovicius and once again Naviskas and Makutunovicius. Joseph Paul Zammit scored a first goal for Malta but Plytnikas extended the lead for Lithuania. Joseph Paul Zammit scored again for Malta but Lebedevas made it 8-2 for Lithuania. Goals by Saturday Nanapere and Andre Joe Cutajar reduced the gap for Malta but Makutunovicius made it 9-4 for Lithuania.