The Malta women’s Under-19 national team lost 1-5 to Latvia in a match from League B of the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship at the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday.

Malta created the first goal-scoring opportunity in the fourth minute when Lara May Azzopardi had a cross-shot from distance which hit the cross bar. It was Latvia who opened the score in the 11^th minute when Anna Belova, unmarked and from an ideal position, hit home with a low shot. The team of coach David Attard made a strong reaction and in added-on time of the first half, levelled matters, when captain Lexine Farrugia, who plies her trade with Roma in Italy, fired a strong shot from almost the edge of the area which gave Latvia goalie, Aleksandra Torgova, no chance.

Photo courtesy fo Malta FA

With four goals in the second half, Latvia ran away with this opening fixture, leaving the Maltese girls shattered. Six minutes after the restart, Nikola Pincuka gave Latvia the lead, placing the ball neatly into the net from close-range. Latvia threatened again in the 69^th minute when Paula Dzene fired a strong shot from outside the box which ended just wide. Three minutes later, Latvia were awarded a penalty, duly converted by Pincuka to give Latvia a 3-1 lead.

The guests added a fourth goal four minutes later, when from a rebound, Paula Dzene placed the ball at the back of the net. The Latvian girls sealed the issue with a fifth goal on 86 minutes through a fierce shot from an ideal position by captain Alise Baltrusaite, which hit the crossbar before crossing the line. Latvia continued administering their comfortable lead throughout the end of the match

On Friday, Malta will be facing Israel who defeated Kazakhstan 2-0 in another match on Tuesday.


Malta Maya Muscat, Thea Ida Scicluna, Emma Sophia Flannery, Amber Galea, Francesca Bartolo, Lexine Farrugia, Nyorah Celeste, Crista Chetcuti Ganado, Suzanne Farrugia Sacco (Ema Micallef 67), Lara May Azzopardi, Stella Francalanza.

Latvia Aleksandra Torgossova, Lizete Duminja, Liva Steinberga (Marija Klementjeva 89), Alise Baltrusaite, Anna Belova, Paula Dzene (Ance Meijere), Nikola Preijere, Nikola Pincuka (Krista Ruja 85), Uma Upite, Laura Kalalse (Amber Prymark 76), Kadsandra Reina Dzene.

Referee Araksya Saribekyan (ARM)