Cyprus scored twice towards the end of the first half as they defeated Malta 2-1 in a match from Group C2 of the UEFA WOmen’s Nations League at the AEK Arena in Larnaca on Friday.

Antri Violari was unlucky to hit the woodwork on 22 minutes but on 33 minutes, she managed to put the hosts ahead when she blocked a clearance by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb following a back pass by Maya Lucia with the ball ending at the back of the net.

Four minutes later, Marilia Constantinou doubled the score, heading home over goalkeeper Xuereb following a freekick by Chryso Michael from the right.

Malta reduced the gap six minute in the second half when off a pass by Haley Bugeja from the left, Sara Papadopoulou deflected the ball past goalkeeper Matthaiou in an attempt to anticipate Maria Farrugia.

Malta will be in action once again on Tuesday, facing Andorra at the Centenary Stadium.

Photo courtesy of Malta FA

CYPRUS Maria Matthaiou, Chryso Michael (77′ Efthalia Siakalli), Andrea Cusick (82′ Steffi Hardy), Maria Panagiotou (77′ Maria Astaniou), Filippa Savva, Antri Violari, Chara Charalambous (62′ Andria Efstratiou), Sara Papadopoulou, Marilena Georgiou, Eirini Michail, Marilia Constantinou (62′ Korina Paola Adamou).

MALTA Janice Xuereb, Emma Lipman, Rachel Cuschieri, Maria Farrugia, Kailey Willis (46′ Alishia Sultana), Maya Lucia, Shona Zammit, Charlene Zammit, Emma Xuereb (79′ Fiona Buttigieg), Nicole Sciberras (85′ Lexine Farrugia), Haley Bugeja.

Referee: Emily Heaslip ENG
Assistant referees: Sophie Dennington, Isabel Chaplin ENG
Fourth Official: Kirsty Dowle ENG