The Malta WU19 National Team ended their UEFA European Women’s U19 Championship Qualifying campaign with an impressive comeback against Kazakhstan, coming from behind to win 3-1 on Monday afternoon.
Kazakhstan took the lead in the sixth minute, as Angelina Oster found a pocket of space outside of the penalty area, before hitting a shot on the half volley that found its way into the net.
Malta looked to respond, building play calmly from the back, regrouping following the early setback.
In the 14th minute, Malta came close to equalising, when a corner was swung deep into the Kazakhstan penalty area, and Nina-Lee Naudi made first contact with the ball, but her effort went narrowly over the bar. A few minutes later, Kay Axiak found Lisa Calleja at the edge of the box, and she hit a powerful left-footed strike, yet it sailed wide.
Malta got their deserved equaliser in the 40th minute, when Olivia Nazarko swung a deep corner into the penalty area, finding Amy Catania, who headed the ball straight into the net.
Malta came out on the attack in the second half, looking to build on the momentum they had in the first. Just seconds into the half, Catania, now playing in a more advanced role, cut inside from the left, before having her effort palmed away by Sabina Ussen.
Malta went into the lead in the 52nd minute, when Axiak found Crista Chetcuti Ganado down the left, who after cutting inside, wrongfooted the Kazakhstan goalkeeper, tucking it into the net to make it 2-1.
Moments later, Kazakhstan had a golden opportunity to equalise, when Oster capitalised on some indecisiveness at the back, but Maya Muscat stood firm, and saved excellently to retain Malta’s lead.
Chetcuti Ganado was on target again in the 58th minute, once again with a right-footed finish from the left wing, with her shot hitting the post and going into the net, making it 3-1 to give Malta some breathing room.
Malta continued to administer the game, keeping Kazakhstan pinned in their defensive third, securing the victory.
As a result, Malta finished their campaign in Group B6 in third with four points, level with Romania. Czechia won the group, while Kazakhstan finished fourth.
KAZAKHSTAN
1 Sabina Ussen (GK) (12 Stella Baburchina-Luklyanets, 61’), 4 Aiya Muttari, 5 Ramina Omarova, 7 Zhaniya Makhash (18 Aidana Baizhanova, 9 Angelina Oster (8 Yelizaveta Medvedeva, 61’), 10 Aru Yermagambetova (C), 11 Aminat Bigozhina (3 Kristina Zammit, 83’), 14 Varvara Tsoy, 15 Ayaulym Baisseit (6 Ayaulym Talgat, 67’), 16 Shaknoza Kholbayeva, 20 Shakhzoda Kholbayeva (2 Tomiris Maxim, 46’)
Coach: Xeniya Postovaya
MALTA
1 Maya Muscat (GK), 2 Amy Catania, 5 Krista Sacco (18 Edeson Grixti, 46’), 6 Madison Grace Cachia, 7 Lisa Calleja (13 Gloria Cassar, 55’), 9 Crista Chetcuti Ganado, 10 Kay Axiak (19 Somaya Muscat, 90’), 11 Thais Muscat, 14 Nina-Lee Naudi (C), 15 Alanah Ghio, 20 Olivia Nazarko (17 Yasmine Ghenam, 90’)
Coach: Melania Bajada
Referee: Melek Dakan (TUR)