Malta finished their 2025 UEFA European Women’s U17 Championship Qualifying campaign with a narrow loss against Moldova despite a much-improved performance.

Malta WU17 Coach Clint Tabone made a number of changes to the line-up ahead of the match, as the team looked to recover from the disappointing defeat to Ukraine last time out and to end the group on a high.

Malta started the better of the two sides, attacking primarily down the left wing and looking very confident on the ball. Seven minutes into the match, they thought they had gone in front, when the ball went into the net from a free-kick, yet it was then ruled out for offside, keeping the score goalless.

After the first 20 minutes, Moldova started to grow into the game, yet they struggled to break Malta down, with the Maltese defence remaining resilient.

The breakthrough for Malta in the 33rd minute, as an excellent ball from Tea Kimamo from the left-wing found Kay Axiak, who struck a wonderful volley to put Malta deservedly ahead.

Malta remained very dangerous going forward, looking very bright and in control of the midfield, with Moldova struggle to have possession in the Maltese half.

Right before half-time, Moldova had a chance to level the scoring, when Victoria Rubanovici burst through on goal, yet she had her shot easily saved by Malta goalkeeper Maya Muscat, keeping the score level at the break.

In the opening minutes of the second-half, Malta seemed willing to slow the game down, frustrating Moldova by passing it across the defence and the midfield.

Despite Malta’s relatively assured start to the half, Moldova did find an equaliser against the run of play, as a shot from outside of the box from Adela Borșci nestled into the net, making it 1-1 midway through the second-half.

Moldova then quickly turned it around, as a free-kick in the 69th minute from Corina Gorcea hit the bar and fell kindly to an onrushing Elisaveta Belcencova, who tucked it away to put Moldova in the lead.

Following the goals, Malta seemed to drop back, with Moldova looking increasingly confident on the ball, and were particularly threatening from set-pieces.

While Malta pushed in search of an equaliser in the latter stages of the match, Moldova held on for the 2-1 win.

Despite the defeat, Malta produced a much better display and a valiant effort against Moldova. This qualifying campaign will aid in the development of Malta’s youth players, especially playing against stronger opposition.

Moldova
1 Alina Ciobanu (GK), 2 Alecsandra Ghisca, 3 Elisaveta Belcencova, 4 Vitalina Emelina, 5 Elena Trifan, 7 Corina Gorcea (C), 8 Simona Meleca (14 Adela Borșci 46′), 10 Victoria Rubanovici, 11 Sofia Dobrovolskaia (13 Tatiana Lisovscaia 61′), 17 Natalia Corcinscaia (15 Liliana Luța 82′), 18 Corina Vasilache (19 Gabriela Stanciu 85′)

Malta
1 Maya Muscat (GK), 3 Lara May Azzopardi (C) (8 Shaiel Falzon 85′), 4 Shanneil Farrugia (16 Jade Galea 58′), 5 Krista Sacco (19 Ilona Abela 85′), 10 Thais Muscat (11 Olivia Mae Taylor 46′), 13 Maia Gauci, 14 Nina-Lee Naudi, 15 Alanah Ghio, 17 Tea Kimamo, 18 Kay Axiak, 21 Alexis Mallia (20 Gloria Cassar 85′)