Azerbaijan………0
Malta………………2
Goals from Joseph Mbong and Alex Satariano in the second half sealed a thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory for Malta against Azerbaijan in their final international friendly of the 2025/26 campaign, played in Hungary. It was a brilliant way to end the season and the squad will head home in high spirits.
Azerbaijan had the better of the chances for large parts of the game, but Malta were sharp when it mattered most and deserved every bit of the victory.
Coach Emilio De Leo rang the changes from the Slovakia game earlier in the week, handing first international starts to goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi and midfielder Andrea Zammit. Enrico Pepe slotted back into central defence, while Aleandro Garzia started at right-back in just his second outing for the national team. Skipper Matthew Guillaumier led the side for his 55th cap, bringing plenty of experience to a relatively youthful starting line-up.
The opening half was largely one of steady Azerbaijani pressure, with Al-Tumi called upon on several occasions to keep the scores level. The young goalkeeper rose to the challenge superbly, producing a string of fine saves including a brilliant tip over from Toral Bayramov’s powerful drive.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with Azerbaijan pushing forward and Al-Tumi again standing firm. He was at his best on 56 minutes, turning away a low effort from Abdulakh Khaybulayev to keep Malta on level terms.
Malta then broke the deadlock on 65 minutes in typical counter-attacking fashion. Chouaref burst down the right and pulled the ball back into the box, where Mbong saw his first effort blocked before poking home the rebound to give Malta the lead.
Azerbaijan threw everything at an equaliser and came desperately close on a couple of occasions, with Isgandarli somehow missing the target from point-blank range and Isaev crashing a thunderous strike against the crossbar.
But Malta held firm and killed the game off with four minutes to go. Satariano linked up cleverly with Mbong before driving a composed left-footed finish into the net to make it 2-0 and seal the points.
Al-Tumi, who had been outstanding throughout, made one final save in stoppage time before being replaced by 19-year-old James Sissons, who came on to make his senior debut in the dying moments.
It was a fitting end to the season for Malta, disciplined, determined, and clinical when the chances came. Coach De Leo will have been delighted with what he saw.
Azerbaijan: Emil Balayev, Elvi Badalov, Badavi Guseynov, Anton Kryvotsyuk, Qismat Aliyev, Elvin Cafarguliyev, Emil Safarov, Aleksey Isayev, Toral Bayramov, Khayal Aliyev, Mahir Emreli. Coach: Aykhan Abbasov
Malta: Rashed Al-Tumi, Aleandro Garzia, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe, Juan Corbalan, Matthew Guillaumier, Teddy Teuma, Alex Satariano, Ilyas Chouaref, Keyon Ewurum, Andrea Zammit. Coach: Emilio De Leo
Referee: Mihaly Kapraly (Hungary) Yellow cards: Badalov (A), Ewurum (M) Attendance: 150
