Malta were held in a goalless draw by Andorra in the final match from Group D2 of the UEFA Narions League at the National Stadium on Tuesday. 

Following Moldova’s last-gasp win over Andorra on Saturday,  Malta’s fate was already sealed – a runner-up spot and a place in the League C/D play-offs in March 2026 – but Malta was still aiming to end its commitments with a win. However the dismissal of Gabriel Mentz aftter just eighteen minutes  complicated matters for Davide Mazzotta’s side. 

Mazzotta opted to start with Henry Bonello in goal. Kurt Shaw, Gabriel Mentz and Jean Borg at the back, Joseph Mbong and Ryan Camenzuli on the flanks, Matthew Guillaumier and Teddy Teuma in midfield with Trent Buhagiar and Paul Mbong supporting Jurgen Degabriele. 

Malta had a first attempt at goal on 12 minutes Trent Buhagiar controlled  the ball on the right, serving Joseph Mbong with a perfect back heel with the latter’s low shot saved. 

Six minutes later, the team received a major setback as Gabriel Mentz was sent off by referee Luka Bilbija – after VAR review – after hitting Albert Rosas. 

Mazzotta was forced to substitute Degabriele with Enrico Pepe in order to strengthen the rear-guard. 

On 28 minutes, the visitors went close to taking the lead thanks to Albert Rosas who controlled a long-distance cross from the left, but his attempt hit the crossbar. Six minutes later, Rosas tested Bonello with an angled shot from the right but the ball was turned onto the crossbar and into a corner. 

After losing Ryan Camenzuli injured, Malta replied with a perfect assist by Teuma for Joseph Mbong on 36 minutes but his close range effort was turned into a corner in style by Alvarez. One minute later,  there was no one to connect off an inviting cross by Guillaumier from the right. 

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Nine minutes in the second half, Albert Rosas had a shot from the left ending just wide.  A Joan Cervos effort from outside the area was deflected into a corner by Bonello on 66 minutes and six minutes later , the same player had a shot from inside the Rea saved by the Malta custodian. 

In the dying minutes, Albert Rosas went close to notching the winner for Andorra but his low shot ended just wide with Cervos failing to intercept from close range. 

MALTA Henry Bonello, Jean Borg, Ryan Camenzuli (34” Myles Beerman) Gabriel Mentz, Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier, Jospeh Mbong, Teddy Teuma (90+1’ Steve Pisani), Paul Mbong (46’ Alexander Satariano), Jurgen Degabriele (24’ Enrico Pepe), Trent Buhagiar (46’ Basil Tuma). 

ANDORRA Iker Alvarez de Eulate, Christian Garcia, Albert Rosas, Izan Fernandez (63” Ricard Fernandez), Moises San Nicolas, Eric de las Heras, Joan Cervos, Joao da Silva (63” Pau Babot), Marc Garcia (77’ Adrian Da  Cunha)), Ian Oliveira (86’ Francisco Pomares), Biel Borra (77’ Jesus Rubio).

Referee: Luka Bilbija BIH

Assistant referees: Damir Lazić BIH, Aleksandar Smiljanić BIH

Fourth official: Dragan Petrović BIH

Video Assistant Referee: Robert Schröder GER

Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Miloš Gigovic BIH

Attendance: 3,142