UEFA European Women’s qualifier
Malta………….0
Kosovo……….6
Malta started their UEFA European Women’s Under-19 Championship Qualifiers with a 6-0 defeat to Kosovo at the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday, with the away side proving too strong for the young Maltese team.
Kosovo started as the stronger of the two teams, and it took them just six minutes to have their first opportunity on goal. Sahare Berisha tried her luck from range with a shot, but it was palmed onto the bar by Maltese goalkeeper Erika Muscat, who then collected the ball.
Malta responded though, and they went on the attack, and in the 17th minute they had a brilliant chance to go ahead. After a quick breakaway down the right, the ball fell to Ema Micallef, who hit a powerful strike that cannoned off the bar. The resulting rebound went wide of the goal.
However, Kosovo got their goal in the 21st minute, after a corner was not dealt with by the Maltese defence, with Elona Paci tucking the ball into the net from close range to make it 1-0. Kosovo threatened to double their lead in the 26th minute, after a neat move led to Riga Kallaba coming face to face with Muscat, yet the goalkeeper stood strong and together with the Maltese defence, denied Kosovo from getting their second.
Muscat was called into action again in the 30th minute, making an excellent save as Kosovo continued to pile on the pressure.
Kosovo eventually got their second of the game, as a free-kick was whipped into the penalty area, finding Ollsa Maqastena, who tapped it into the net in the 39th minute.
Malta immediately responded, as a corner was swung into the penalty area, with the ball being met by Stella Francalanza, whose header went narrowly wide of the post.
However, Kosovo went into the break three goals up, as a quick counter-attack led to Paci running through on goal, before hitting a shot past Muscat.
Following the break, Malta came out looking more confident in their play, winning more of their duels. Despite that, Kosovo got the first goal of the half after a mix-up in the penalty area, leading to Riga Kallaba slotting the ball into the net.
Malta did not let the early second-half setback get the better of them, and they continued to press, looking for a goal. Yet as a result they left themselves more open at the back, and Kosovo took full advantage, as Paci got her hat-trick in the 70th minute to make it 5-0. Kosovo got their final goal of the game right before full-time, with Besjana Zogaj tucking the ball past the goalkeeper.
The match finished in a 6-0 defeat to Malta, with their next match being against Latvia on Friday 4th April, with kick-off at 14:30hrs.
Kosovo
1 Djellza Mehmeti (GK) (C), 2 Aurora Cakolli (13 Rita Feka 83’), 3 Ramize Orana (21 Agnesa Aliu 76’), 5 Aurora Mulliqi, 6 Besjana Zogaj, 7 Elona Paci, 9 Riga Kallaba, 10 Sahare Berisha (18 Albinga Gegaj 76’), 17 Liza Hoxha, 20 Olsa Maqastena (15 Shenarta Bela 46’), 22 Imeraj Aurela (19 Elda Nuredini 66’)
Coach: Albina Rrahmani
Malta
1 Erika Muscat (GK), 4 Amber Galea, 5 Fatma Al Girbi (8 Amelia Vassallo 46’), 6 Ema Micallef, 7 Lara May Azzopardi, 10 Crista Chetcuti Ganado, 14 Shannen Mallia (2 Michela Rose Ionadi 46’), 15 Thea Ida Scicluna (13 Megan La Rosa 83’), 20 Ylenia Azzopardi (9 Nilayza Attard 76’), 21 Francesca Bartolo (C) (18 Shana Farrugia 76’), 22 Stella Francalanza
Coach: David Attard
Referee: Kristina Kozoroh (UKR)
