The Malta women’s national team secured promotion to League B of the UEFA Women’s Nations League thanks to a 1-0 win over Cyprus in a match from Group C2 at the National Stadium in front of a record attendance of 1,205 spectators.

With each team yet to playing their final match on Tuesday, Malta moved five points ahead of second-placed Cyprus with Georgia lying in third placed ahead of bottom-placed Andorra.

For Malta this was the second promotion in the UEFA Women’s Nations League following the historic promotion in the first edition in 2023.

Photo courtesy of Malta FA/Andre Farrugia

Malta went close with a Maria Farrugia effort after just two minutes but Cyprus replied with a pass by Elena Aristodimou for Antri Violari on 11 minutes with goalkeeper Janice Xuereb anticipating the latter but Aristodimou took the rebound but her effort was blocked by Lipman. Maria Farrugia concluded a solo effort with a shot from outside the area ending high a minute later. 

Haley Bugeja, served by Kailey Willis, had a fine effort, saved in two attempts by the Cyprus goalkeeper on 15 minute and on 34 minutes, Rachel Cuschieri missed a good opportunity when all alone in front of the goalkeeper, hitting wide. 

Five minutes into the first half, Michael’s corner was blocked by Janice Xuereb with the ball eventually reaching Elena Aristodimou who from the edge of the box hit the crossbar.

The Maltese opened the scoring three minutes later when Emma Xuereb intercepted a ball on the left in midfield and served Haley Bugeja who advanced well and rounded two defenders before beating Matthaiou with a shot from the right.

Just before the end of the first half, Malta went close again when off a corner by Shona Zammit from the right, Bugeja’s low shot was blocked and Emma Lipman had a fine shot turned into a corner by the Cypriot goalkeeper.

Six minutes into the second half, Maria Farrugia finished another good moved with a low shot from the edge of the box that was saved by Matthaiou and on 59 minutes, Bugeja, served by Willis who had an attempt blocked by a defender but the ball reached Shona Zammit whose first-time shot went just over the bar. Three minutes later, Farrugia’s angled shot was saved by Matthaiou.

From a corner by Rachel Cuschieri from the left, Emma Lipman had a close-range header saved by the Cyprus goalkeeper in the 68th minute while four minutes later, Maria Farrugia finished off a personal move with a shot from outside the box, deflected by Matthaiou, which hit the crossbar.

Maria Farrugia had a good attempt from the left once again saved by the Cypriot goalkeeper with five minutes to go and on the 90th, from a corner from the right by Siakalli, Papadopoulou went close with a shot that went just over the bar.

Malta plays its last game against Andorra away from home.