Malta suffered their second-consecutive defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers on Monday night despite going toe-to-toe with Poland for large parts of the game.
Poland started the game on the attack, looking to get an early goal. In the third minute of the game, Jakub Kamiński carved some space with a run into the penalty area, before hitting a strike that went narrowly wide of the post.
Malta hit back in the sixth minute, as after some neat play from the back freed up Ilyas Chouaref, who made a blistering run into Poland’s half, before firing a shot that is turned away for a corner by Łukasz Skorupski.
However, Poland remained very threatening in the opening stages, especially down the left wing. In the 14th minute, Poland came close to opening the scoring, after Mateusz Bogusz broke free down the left flank, yet his strike was excellently saved by Henry Bonello.
Poland got their opening goal in the 27th minute, after a cross from the right was deflected into the path of Karol Świderski, who made no mistake from close range, tucking the ball into the net to give the home side the lead.
Malta’s next opportunity came in the 33rd minute, when a quick break led to him running towards the Polish penalty area, but his strike from long range went wide. This was followed by a strike from James Carragher only a few minutes later, after the defender stole the ball from the Polish midfield, before trying his luck from range, but his effort was saved by Skorupski.
Bonello was called into action on more than one occasion before half-time, with the Maltese goalkeeper being forced to make two solid saves to keep the deficit down to one goal as the two sides headed into the break.
Poland doubled their lead a few minutes after the restart, as a loose pass into midfield was intercepted by the Polish midfield, before the ball was laid off by Jakub Moder to Świderski, who hit a left-footed strike that went past Bonello, making it 2-0 to the home side.
Poland continued to pile on the pressure in the second-half, with the home side testing the Maltese defence.
Bonello made a brilliant save in the 71st, when a free-kick was whipped into the penalty area, finding Świderski, who had a chance to get his hat-trick, yet was denied from close range by the Maltese goalkeeper. Bonello’s palms were stung once again in the 78th minute, after an excellent move from the Polish attack led to Jakub Kamiński, running through on goal, yet the Maltese shot stopper stood tall and kept his shot out.
Chouaref, who was Malta’s most threatening player throughout the game, had another attempt on goal in the 87th minute, testing his luck from range with a curling effort, but it was well-handled by Skorupski.
Malta were dealt with another massive blow, finishing the game with 10 men for the second-consecutive match after Chouaref was sent off for a challenge in midfield.
The match finished in a 2-0 defeat to Malta, despite producing another encouraging display against a strong Polish side.
Malta’s next game in the Group G will be a home encounter against Lithuania on 7th June 2025.
Poland
1 Łukasz Skorupski (GK), 5 Jan Bednarek (C) (4 Mateusz Wieteska 46’), 8 Jakub Moder, 10 Sebastian Szymański, 11 Karol Świderski, 13 Jakub Kamiński (18 Bartosz Bereszyński 87’), 14 Jakub Kiwior, 15 Kamil Piątkowski, 19 Przemysław Frankowski (2 Matty Cash 66’), 21 Mateusz Bogusz (17 Bartosz Slisz 46’), 23 Krzysztof Piątek (9 Robert Lewandowski 66’)
Coach: Michał Probierz
Malta
1 Henry Bonello (GK), 3 Ryan Camenzuli, 5 James Lee Carragher, 6 Matthew Guillaumier (C), 7 Joseph Mbong (18 Adam Magri Overend 66’), 9 Ilyas Chouaref, 10 Teddy Teuma, 13 Enrico Pepe (2 Jean Borg 83’), 20 Paul Mbong (14 Kyrian Nwoko 46’), 22 Zach Muscat (19 Carlo Zammit Lonardelli 58’), 23 Alexander Satariano (11 Basil Tuma 58’)
Coach: Emilio De Leo
Referee: Morten Krogh (DEN)
Yellow cards: Zach Muscat (MLT), Przemysław Frankowski (POL), Bartosz Slisz (POL), Basil Tuma (MLT), Ilyas Chouaref (MLT)
Red cards: Ilyas Chouaref (MLT)
Report: MFA
Photo: Andre Farrugia
