The Malta Women’s National Team secured a 1-0 win over Luxembourg on Friday night, after a second-half strike from Haley Bugeja proved enough to get the victory for Manuela Tesse’s side.
Luxembourg had a huge opportunity to go in front 20 minutes into the game, when Kimberley Dos Santos was fed through on goal, and when Maya Cachia came rushing out to claim the ball, she clattered into the forward, and the away side were granted a penalty. Marta Estevez Garcia stepped up to take it, but Cachia made amends, diving brilliantly to save the penalty.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
Malta came very close to taking the lead in the 37th minute, when Rachel Cuschieri swung in a perfect cross, finding Haley Bugeja, who on the stretch managed to stroke the ball towards the goal, only for Lucie Schlime to tip it away for a corner. From the resulting corner, there was a scramble near the goalkeeper, before the ball fell to Cuschieri right outside the penalty area, yet her powerful volley only went wide.
The score remained level at the break, with both sides having opportunities.
In the 51st minute, Malta almost took the lead, when Cuschieri fired a curling free-kick that went narrowly over the bar.
Malta took the lead in the 58th minute, when a brilliant ball from substitute Brenda Borg found Bugeja, who ran through on goal, before tucking the ball past Schlime and into the net.
The home side came very close to extending their lead in the 71st minute when Yulya Carella hit a driven shot towards goal, before it was tipped away. Borg came to collect the rebound, but she was fouled in the penalty area, awarding Malta a spot-kick. Bugeja stepped up to take it, but she also had her penalty excellently saved, with Schlime diving brilliantly to deny her.
Malta continued to push forward, but they could not breach the Luxembourg defence again, with Schlime denying them a second goal.
Despite that, Malta held out for the win after an excellent second half display, showcasing their attacking prowess. The Malta Women’s National Team will be back in action in November for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League.
MALTA Maya Cachia (Giulia D’Antuono, 46’), Alexandra Gatt, Georgiana Mifsud (Valentina Rapa, 78’), Jessica Lee Dimech (Leanne Cefai, 54’), Yulya Carella (Nyorah Celeste, 73’), Rachel Cuschieri, Kailey Willis (Sara Saliba, 46’), Maria Farrugia, Shona Zammit (Fiona Buttigieg, 73’), Nicole Sciberras (17 Brenda Borg, 46’), Haley Bugeja (Jana Barbara, 78’).
LUXEMBOURG Lucie Schlime, Emma Kremer, Marta Estevez Garcia, Joana Lourenco (Vera Villegas, 73’), Catarina Lavinas, Laura Miller, Ana Abreu Barbosa (Andreia Faria, 73’), Leila Schmit, Hannah Dietrich, Anna Miny, Kimberley Dos Santos.
Referee: Charlotte Elizabeth Carpenter