The Malta Women Under 19 national team suffered a narrow defeat to Italian side Catania in a friendly match at the Centenary Stadium on Monday.
The first half, although goalless, was dominated by the Maltese with some chances just wide off the mark. Just after three minutes of play the hosts got their first attempt on goal when Ileana Farrugia passed the ball to Yulya Carella, whose shot went wide off the post. Ten minutes into the match Catania got their first corner which was shot directly into Malta’s Justyne Caruana who saved without hesitation.
Photo courtesy of www.stephengatt.com
Some excellent one touch passing between Georgina Mifsud and Martina Cortis lead to a scoring opportunity however she was stopped outside the box. Two minutes later Cortis had a cross shot saved by Catania’s goalkeeper Puglisi. Carella’s shot on the 24th minute was wide and no danger to Catania’s Puglisi.
One minute after the opening of the second half the hosts had their chance at goal when Carella fired a close shot only to be saved by Catania’s Puglisi. Catania scored the match winning goal on the 58th minute. Catania’s Beatrice Enza Vitale received the ball from a corner and made no mistake in putting it past Borg.
On the 81st minute Carella went near to equalising however her shot Infront of the goalkeeper went slightly wide. In the dying minutes Alexandra Gatt’s shot was saved with difficulty into a corner by Catania’s goalkeeper.
MALTA Justyne Caruana, Isabella Camilleri, Georgiana Mifsud, Reagan Mallia, Ileana Farrugia, Kayah Abela Sciberras, Francesca Bartolo, Alexandra Gatt, Yulya Carella, Lexine Farrugia, Martina Cortis.
CATANIA Anna Giada Puglisi, Luana Pietrini, Marzia Chirico’, Christina Lanteri, Chiara Fiorile, Anna Zappala’, Maria L. Virginia Basilotta, Maria Di Stefano, Enza Beatrice Vitale, Vittoria Musumeci, Desiree Suriano.
Referee: Joanna Vassallo (Malta)