KAZAKHSTAN…1
MALTA……………3
Malta wrapped up their UEFA Euro WU19 Group B6 commitments in style as they registered a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan at the Centenary Stadium, delivering a mature and assured performance from start to finish.
David Attard’s side were on the front foot straight from kick-off. Within seconds, neat interplay released captain Lexine Farrugia inside the area, but her effort at the near post was pushed away by Kazakhstan goalkeeper Ayana Toktarova.
Kazakhstan replied with a clear chance of their own after eight minutes when the ball was cut back to Nazym Aldanazar, whose powerful strike from the edge of the area just cleared the crossbar.
Midway through the first half, Malta carved out a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. Crista Chetcuti Ganado sprung the offside trap and raced through on goal, but her left-footed attempt was smothered by Toktarova, with the rebound then blocked by a recovering defender.
The deserved opener arrived in the 26th minute. A scramble in the Kazakhstan penalty area saw a series of Maltese efforts repelled by a combination of the goalkeeper and defenders, before the ball fell kindly to Emma Sophia Flannery. The defender kept her composure and drove a firm shot into the net to give Malta a 1-0 lead.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, Malta continued to dictate the tempo and stitch together tidy moves. On 36 minutes, a slick passing sequence freed Nyorah Celeste in a central position, but her strike was again dealt with by Toktarova. Just before the interval, Suzanne Farrugia Sacco surged down the left and delivered a dangerous cross towards Farrugia, who could not quite connect properly as Malta went in a goal up at the break.
Malta started the second half with real intent and immediately doubled their advantage. Straight after the restart, Chetcuti Ganado controlled the ball superbly before slipping an intelligent pass into the path of Farrugia, who calmly placed her shot beyond Toktarova to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later, the Reds moved 3-0 ahead. Chetcuti Ganado turned provider once more, sending in a measured cross from the flank which Celeste met from close range, guiding the ball into the net and tightening Malta’s grip on the contest.
Kazakhstan managed to pull one back in the 68th minute. Following a corner, a scramble ensued inside the Maltese penalty area and the loose ball dropped to Aldanazar, who managed to force it over the line from close range.
Despite the setback, Malta remained the stronger side and quickly looked to reassert control. Around the 75th minute, they created a couple of opportunities to restore their three-goal cushion but were unable to find a fourth.
In the closing stages, Attard’s team managed the game intelligently, keeping possession for lengthy spells and preventing Kazakhstan from building any serious momentum. Their composure ensured there was no late drama, and Malta saw out the match to claim a well-earned 3-1 victory and a positive end to their qualifying campaign.
Kazakhstan
12 Ayana Toktarova (GK) (1 Didar Naken, 55’), 3 Azhar Shoketayeva (15 Aizada Adilbek, 28’), 4 Adeliya Bekkozhina, 6 Darya Tolkachyova (16 Ramina Omarova, 55’), 7 Zhanel Talasbayeva, 8 Nazym Aldanazar (C), 11 Elina Irismetova (5 Anel Dosbolova, 46’), 13 Medina Murat (10 Tomiris Rakhatzhan, 55’), 14 Aissana Zeken, 19 Zhansezim Aissapar, 20 Diana Sabyr
Coach: Zhanna Malgazhdarova
Malta
1 Erika Muscat (GK), 2 Thea Ida Scicluna, 3 Emma Sophia Flannery, 4 Amber Galea, 5 Francesca Bartolo, 7 Lexine Farrugia (C) (18 Shana Farrugia, 78’), 10 Nyorah Celeste, 13 Crista Chetcuti Ganado, 15 Suzanne Farrugia Sacco (6 Ema Micallef, 66’), 17 Lara May Azzopardi, 19 Stella Francalanza
Coach: David Attard
Referee: Teona Sturua (GEO)
