Malta recorded their third-consecutive win in the UEFA Women’s Nations League after beating Georgia 2-1 with a brilliant attacking display on Tuesday.
The game started in a pretty tight fashion, with neither side managing to get a foothold on the match, exchanging possession quite frequently.
Malta had the first opportunity of the game, as a corner was swung into the Georgian penalty area, and while the initial ball was dealt with, it fell to Charlene Zammit, who crossed the ball in the direction of Kailey Willis, yet she could not make a connection to direct it into the net.
Georgia’s first shot on target came in the 36th minute, as Teona Bakradze tried her luck from distance, yet her effort was palmed away by Janice Xuereb.
After controlling most of the half, Malta opened the scoring in the 39th minute, as Rachel Cuschieri fired a stunning long-range shot that went over goalkeeper Tatia Gabunia, before nestling into the roof of the net.
Georgia thought they had equalised on the stroke of half-time, as a corner was crossed into a dangerous area right in front of Xuereb, but the referee spotted a foul on the goalkeeper. As a result, the two sides went into the break with Malta a goal up.
Malta came close to doubling their lead straight after the restart, as a low cross was driven into the penalty area, yet Willis’s attempt was saved by Gabunia.
Malta got their second goal of the match after they were awarded a penalty due to a foul on Haley Bugeja in the penalty area. Bugeja stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, and she made no mistake, firing it past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Malta continued to control the game, and they could have made it 3-0 in the 69th minute with two shots on goal in the space of a few seconds. Cuschieri first found space in the penalty area yet her shot was saved by the Georgian goalkeeper, before Shona Zammit then swivelled quickly to hit a difficult shot that was excellently saved by Gabunia.
Georgia started to pile on more pressure towards the latter stages. Xuereb was called into action in the 81st minute with a stunning save to keep the ball out, before Georgia had an effort rattle the bar only a minute later.
Yet Georgia got their goal in the 84th minute, as a free-kick was whipped into the penalty area, and Mariam Kalandadze slotted the ball into the net from close range to make it 2-1.
Malta held out for the win, recording their second win over Georgia in the space of a few days.
Malta
1 Janice Xuereb (GK), 5 Oceane Grange, 8 Rachel Cuschieri (C), 10 Maria Farrugia, 11 Kailey Willis (9 Alishia Cassar 80’), 13 Maya Lucia, 14 Shona Zammit, 16 Charlene Zammit, 18 Emma Xuereb, 20 Nicole Sciberras, 21 Haley Bugeja
Coach: Manuela Tesse
Georgia
12 Tatia Gabunia (GK) (C), 2 Gvantsa Kadagishvili, 3 Nino Pasikashvili (9 Maiko Bebia 80’), 4 Nino Chkhartishvili, 6 Natia Danelia, 7 Tatiana Matveeva, 10 Teona Bakradze, 16 Salome Gasviani, 17 Lizi Mtskerashvili, 19 Nino Bukhrikidze (8 Irina Khaburdzania 46’), 21 Mariam Kalandadze
Coach: Iris Antman
Referee: Cansu Tryak (TUR)
Yellow cards: Lizi Mtskerashvili (GEO), Teona Bakradze (GEO)
Source: MFA
Photo: MFA
