The Malta Women’s Under-19 National Team produced an energetic display on Wednesday afternoon, yet were undone by a late flurry of goals from a clinical Lebanon side.
Malta had the first chance of the match in the fourth minute, as Rowen Crawshaw made a darting run from the left, before finding Caitlyn Turner, who hit a shot that was palmed onto the bar by Lebanon goalkeeper Marcelle Skaiki.
Lebanon hit the woodwork as well in the 10th minute after pressing the Maltese defence, with Maryam Lazkani getting free down the left, yet her shot smashed against the post.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
However, Malta were very threatening down the other end, and in the 11th minute, Crista Chetcuti Ganado made an excellent run down the left wing, skipping past her marker before curling an excellent cross towards Lexine Farrugia, yet her effort was saved by Skaiki.
The home side continued to press the Lebanon defence, and after reclaiming the ball on the edge of the penalty area, Emma Flannery tried her luck from range, with her strike going narrowly wide.
Malta opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when a neatly threaded through pass from Chetcuti Ganado found Farrugia, who from close range made no mistake, slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Lebanon almost responded with a goal of their immediately, as in the 23rd minute, some indecisiveness at the back for Malta led to the ball falling for Sherin Hasno, who hit an excellent curling strike that bounced off the woodwork, before being cleared away.
The away side were granted an opportunity to draw the game level in the 35th minute, when a foul in the penalty area led to Lebanon being awarded a penalty-kick. Hasno stepped up to take it, and she rifled it into the top corner to make it 1-1.
The home side looked to issue a quick respond, and just moments after, Farrugia hit a curling cross towards Flannery, whose powerful strike was palmed over the bar by the Lebanon goalkeeper.
Malta started the second half strong, and just three minutes after the restart, the woodwork was struck yet again. Suzanne Farrugia Sacco capitalized on a loose ball down the left wing, and after weaving her way past the defenders, passed to Turner, whose shot hit the bar and somehow did not go into the net.
They got their reward for their pressure in the 54th minute, when a delightful pass from Chetcuti Ganado found Amelia Vassallo, who when face-to-face with the goalkeeper, calmly slotted it into the net to restore Malta’s advantage.
Lebanon drew level in the 61st minute, as a cross was not cleared by the Maltese defence, with Luna Khazem latching onto the loose ball to head the away side level.
The away side went in front for the first time in the match in the 77th minute, when a long-range strike from Maryam Lazkani nestled into the top corner.
Julia Maria Zarb was called into action in the 82nd minute, when a powerful strike from the right was saved and turned away for a corner.
Lebanon added to their lead in the final few minutes, as Sarah Issa stroked the ball into the back of the net.
Despite Malta’s best efforts, the score finished 2-4 to Lebanon. The two sides will meet again on Friday 24th October for the second international friendly match, with kick-off also at 15:00hrs.
Malta
1 Maya Muscat (GK) (12 Julia Maria Zarb, 46’), 5 Francesca Bartolo (8 Amelia Vassallo, 46’), 4 Amber Galea (19 Thais Muscat, 62’), 3 Lara May Azzopardi (18 Maia Gauci, 62’), 11 Rowen Crawshaw, 6 Emma Flannery, 14 Caitlyn Turner, 17 Stella Francalanza, 10 Nyorah Celeste (16 Ylenia Azzopardi, 46’), 20 Crista Chetcuti Ganado (15 Lisa Calleja, 62’), 7 Lexine Farrugia (C) (22 Suzanne Farrugia Sacco, 46’)
Coach: David Attard
Lebanon
1 Marcelle Skaiki (GK), 4 Haya Najjad (, 2 Ayana Rezkallah, 14 Lynn Moutran, 6 Celine Bitar, 10 Cecile Iskandar (C), 18 Paula Karam (8 Gianna Frangieh, 62’), 7 Sherin Hasno, 19 Luna Khazem (17 Caren Serhal, 75’), 9 Maryam Lazkani, 12 Gabriella Danielle (20 Sarah Issa, 68’)
Coach: Francois Dahdah
Referee: Rapjan Xhyra