UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship Qualifiers
Malta……….1
Lithuania…3
Malta’s Women Under 17 side delivered a spirited performance but were beaten 3–1 by Lithuania at the Centenary Stadium. Justina Blazevicute’s hat trick proved decisive despite a determined display from the hosts, who created a series of chances and forced long spells of defending from the visitors.
Lithuania struck early when Blazevicute pounced on hesitation in the Maltese back line and finished past Katelyn Camilleri inside three minutes. The goal set a quick tempo, but Malta responded with purpose, pushing higher and delivering dangerous balls into the area. Paulina Mockute went close to a second for Lithuania with a header that crashed against the crossbar, while Malta’s belief grew as the half progressed.
Malta worked the flanks well and, on 27 minutes, Amy Bello Catania drove from distance only for Ieva Kaminskaite to gather. A neat exchange between Kay Axiak and captain Nina-Lee Naudi opened another sight of goal on 39 minutes, but the shot lacked power. Right on the interval, Naudi’s corner found Catania, whose header forced Kaminskaite into a scrambling save on the line.
Lithuania doubled their advantage on the hour when Blazevicute ran on to a through pass and finished calmly for 2–0. Malta kept pressing. Catania’s long-range free kick whistled just over on 65 minutes, before Camilleri denied Blazevicute a third with a sharp stop, and Catania swept the rebound off the line.
Blazevicute completed her hat trick on 76 minutes, breaking clear to make it 3–0. Malta refused to fold and were rewarded eight minutes from time when a Malta effort was parried by Kaminskaite into the path of substitute Amberley Borg, who tucked in from close range. The hosts chased another goal late on but Lithuania held firm.
Malta are back in action on Sunday 9 November at 12:00 when they meet Sweden at the Centenary Stadium.
Referee: Duygu Hatice Aydin (Turkey)
Malta
12 Katelyn Camilleri (GK), 2 Amy Bello Catania, 5 Krista Sacco (13 Jade Micallef Cassar, 73′), 6 Amy Portelli, 8 Martina Vassallo (7 Erika Cini, 73′), 10 Kay Axiak (19 Amberley Borg, 60′), 14 Nina-Lee Naudi (C), 15 Alanah Ghio, 16 Sara Anneloes Shaladi, 21 Ana Mercieca (18 Pearl May Schembri, 60′), 22 Isabelle Said
Coach: Clint Tabone
Lithuania
12 Ieva Kaminskaite (GK) (C), 3 Aleksandra Samoilenko, 4 Ugne Gruodyte, 5 Ausrine Jankunaite, 7 Elizabeth Aleksandra Dudka (10 Agata-Marija Kairyte, 46′), 8 Auguste Augenaite, 9 Paulina Mockute (13 Shantale Korol, 63′), 15 Justina Blazevicute (11 Adele Stalnionyte, 79′), 20 Iveta Kalvyte, 23 Adriana Bystronovskaja (19 Gryte Vaisbrode, 46′)
Coach: Vadim Carabetchi
