Malta’s women national team secured an important victory against Moldova with two second half goals from Haley Bugeja in their second game from the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Following on for the win against Latvia, Malta now have two wins out of two in the UEFA Nations League Group C1.
Malta were looking to make it two wins out of two in the UEFA Nations League after having won the match at the death against Latvia. With Haley Bugeja once again starting, Malta had their lynchpin hoping to make an impression. This game also saw the return from retirement of Alishia Sultana, who was included in the starting line up by Coach Manuela Tesse.
Malta started strongly and Alishia Sultana had a shot blocked in a goalmouth melee’ after just 2 minutes. Sultana was again close after just 5 minutes as the locals began turning the screw in a monumental downpour. The next chance came almost half an hour later when Nicole Sciberras shot over the bar from just outside the box.
Moldova had a chance of their own on 41 minutes when Janice Xuereb gave away possession but Carolina Tabur’s shot ended up wide. Malta should have taken the lead in stoppage time but Ylenia Crabaott’s shot was somehow blocked by the Moldova defence.
Malta finally took the lead at the start of the second half when Brenda Borg passed an inch perfect ball to Haley Bugeja who keeping her composure, cooly slotted past a hapless Bojenco. On 58 minutes, Bugeja made it her second and Malta’s double when she pounced on a loose ball in the box and slotted into an empty net.
Malta controlled the game well after that with Moldova never getting a look in and securing an important three points to maintain their perfect start to the UEFA Nations League Group C1 with two wins out of two.
Malta: Janice Xuereb, Ann-Marie Said, Emma Lipman (c), Stefania Farrugia, Ylenia Carabott (Leah Alice Ayres 76’), Rachel Cuschieri, Alishia Sultana (Maya Lucia 56’), Brenda Borg, Emma Xuereb, Nicole Sciberras, Haley Bugeja
Moldova: Denisa Bojenco, Cristina Cerescu, Valeria Virlan (Iuliana Colnic 62’), Carolina Tabur, Claudia Chiper (Daniela Mardari 62’), Felicia Gutu, Madalina Badiceanu, Nadejda Colesnicenco (Eugenia Railean 84’), Anastasia Cernitu, Anastasia Sivolobova, Irina Topal (Carina Doiban 19’)
Referee: Michaela Pachtova (CZE), Asst Referees: Lucie Ratajova (CZE), Teresa Holakovska (CZE), Fourth Official: Lucie Sulcova
Source: MFA
