Malta commenced the UEFA WU15 Development Tournament with a disappointing penalty shootout defeat against Lithuania, despite producing an impressive attacking display on Tuesday got the home side a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.
Malta started the game looking sharp, wanting to attack the Lithuanian backline. In the fourth minute, Malta had their first attempt on goal, with Keziah Richard trying her luck from range, but it was easily saved by Monika Kriūnaitė.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
In the ninth minute, Malta built a quick counter-attack, with some excellent link-up play in midfield, before Katrina Catania raced through on goal from the left wing, but from a very tight angle her shot went narrowly wide.
Malta kept pinning Lithuania back, producing a number of neat passages of play in the opening 15 minutes, with the away side struggling to get out of their defensive shape.
However, Lithuania would take the lead completely against the run of play, capitalising on a loose pass in midfield before the ball was presented to Andrėja Tamošauskaitė, who stroked it past Chloe Borg to open the scoring.
Despite Malta’s constant pressure, Lithuania had the next big opportunity, as a long ball was not dealt with by the Maltese defence, and Tamošauskaitė cut in from the left, yet her effort hit the post. But she would not have to wait long for her second, as she made it 2-0 in the 26th minute thanks to a lovely finish.
Malta responded, and they continued to mount pressure on the Lithuanian backline. In the 43rd minute, Chanice Refalo turned quickly before hitting a powerful strike that smashed against the woodwork, before dropping to Catania, who tucked in the rebound to halve the deficit.
There was enough time for Malta to draw level, as a Lithuanian corner was well-dealt with, and Borg released the ball upfield, finding Catania, who burst through on goal and finished excellently to make it 2-2 with her second goal of the game.
Malta started the second-half in the same spirit they finished the first, looking very dangerous down the flanks. Substitute Ella Muscat made an excellent run in the 52nd minute, before crossing to Amy Muscat, yet her effort was saved by the goalkeeper.
The game was relatively stop-start for the rest of the half due to a number of substitutions, but Malta remained in control for large parts of the encounter. E. Muscat had an opportunity in the 79th minute, dribbling past the opposition full-back, but her effort was palmed away for a corner.
Despite their pressure and having plenty of opportunities on goal, Malta could not find a winner, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw. As a result, the match went to penalties.
From the penalty shoot-out, Lithuania came away as 3-1 winners.
Malta will take on Northern Ireland next on Thursday 16th September at 13:30hrs, also at the Centenary Stadium.
Malta
1 Chloe Borg (GK), 20 Francesca Spiteri Busuttil (3 Nael Mifsud Lepre, 46’, 21 Elsa Polidano, 69’), 19 Chanice Refalo (18 Kylie Pullicino, 63’), 4 Amie Martha Portelli (C), 17 Amy Muscat, 6 Rihanna Fava Borg, 7 Martina Mendez Vasquez, 8 Elanya Mallia, 9 Katrine Jorgensen (13 Ella Muscat, 46’), 10 Katrina Catania (14 Jodie Lewis, 68’), 11 Keziah Richard (15 Mikaela Vella Aquilina, 83’)
Coach: Clint Tabone
Lithuania
12 Monika Kriūnaitė (GK) (22 Eivilė Riterytė, 46’), 3 Amelija Gudmundsson (2 Ema Gerybaitė, 69’), 11 Adelė Baranauskaitė, 17 Gytė Saulėnaitė (15 Urtė Balčiūtė, 46’), 9 Augustė Kriūnaitė (19 Magdalena Liachovič, 46’), 20 Viktorija Liberė, 13 Liepa Papievytė, 16 Audrė Lučinskaitė (7 Liepa Zlatkutė, 46’), 4 Andrėja Tamošauskaitė, 23 Adrija Puškoriūtė, 8 Rugilė Kamienaitė (10 Austėja Stelmokaitė, 90+3’)
Coach: Domas Paulauskas