Following the win over Finland last week, the Malta national team managed to produce another fine performance although in the end had to concede a 2-3 defeat to Poland in the final match from Group G of the European Qualifiers leading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the National Stadium on Monday.

The boys in red gave their all and twice managed to hit back after going a goal down. However, Poland finally emerged as winners to take home the three points to finish in the runner-up spot behind group winners Netherlands.

Despite this result, Malta managed to avoid the bottom spot in the group as they finished their commitments on five points, two ahead of Lithuania. In this qualifying campaign, Malta matched the record number of points obtained, something Malta had done under the leadership of Dusan Fitzel in the EURO 2008 qualifiers and under Devis Mangia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers although in those campaigns, Malta had played twelve matches and ten matches respectively, compared to this year’s total of eight matches.

Above all, these two great performances by the team should boost Malta’s morale ahead of the UEFA Nations League play-offs against Luxembourg in programme in March.

Coach Emilio De Leo opted for three changes from the team which defeated Finland as Gabriel Mentz was handed a start along with the returning Ryan Camenzuli and Teddy Teuma with Enrico Pepe, Juan Corbalan and Paul Mbong making way for these three players. 

De Leo started with the usual 4-2-3-1 formation as Mentz joined Shaw in the centre of defence with Muscat and Camenzuli on the flanks. Satariano partnered with Guillaumier in midfield with Joseph Mbong, Teuma and Chouaref. However for some time during the second half, the Malta coach opted for three defenders in the middle supported by Corbalan and Camenzuli on the flanks.

Photos courtesy of Malta FA

After just three minutes, Bartosz Slisz tested Bonello with a powerful drive from outside the area. Nicola Zalweski concluded a good run on the left flank with a diagonal shot which scraped past the post on 21 minutes. 

However, on 32 minutes, Poland managed to take the lead when off a free kick from the left by Zielinski, Robert Lewandowski headed the ball home past goalkeeper Bonello. 

Malta levelled matters four minutes later when off a cross by Chouaref, Joseph Mbong’s first effort was blocked by the Polish goalkeeper and off the rebound, Irvin Cardona’s first attempt was blocked by a defender before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Dragowski.

Four minutes from the end of the first half, Satariano had a shot from the right parried by Dragowski.

Poland regained the lead on 59 minutes when Lewandowski entered the area and served Pawel Wszolek on the right and the latter hit the ball past Bonello. 

Following a swift counter-break for Malta, the referee turned down appeals for a penalty after Irvin Cardona was pulled down inside the area on 62 minutes and immediately afterwards, substitute Karol Swiderski placed the ball at the back of the net off an assist by Skoras from the left. However following VAR review, the goal was disallowed and a penalty awarded to Malta with Teddy Teuma converting to make it 2-2 on 68 minutes.

Eleven minutes from time, Malta went close to taking the lead for the first time when off a cross by Chouaref, Adam Magri Overend controlled the ball before having a low shot from inside the area saved by Dragowski.

However Poland made it 3-2 on 85 minutes when Piotr Zielinski beat the Malta custodian with a long-distance effort, slightly deflected by a defender, when served by Kapustka from the right.

MALTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camenzuli, Gabriel Mentz (87′ Trent Buhagiar), Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong (46′ Adam Magri Overend), Teddy Teuma (77′ Enrico Pepe), Irvin Cardona (77′ Paul Mbong), Ilyas Chouaref, Zach Muscat (54′ Juan Corbalan), Alexander Satariano.

POLAND Bartlomiej Dragowski, Przemyslaw Wisniewski (78′ Bartosz Berezynski), Tomasz Kedziora, Robert Lewandowski, Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Kaminski (90+1′ Filip Rozga), Jakub Kiwior, Pawel Wszolek (78′ Kamil Grosicki), Bartosz Slisz (78′ Bartosz Kapustka), Michal Skoras, Nicola Zalweski (46′ Karol Świderski).

Referee: Igor Pajac CRO
Assistant Referees: Bojan Zobenica, Ivan Mihalj CRO
Fourth Official: Dario Bel CRO
VAR: Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant VAR Fran Jovic CRO
Attendance: 10,326