Malta fell to a 4-0 defeat away to Northern Ireland at Mourneview Park on Tuesday, with the hosts’ goals coming early on in each half.
The hosts got their first goal after just five minutes, when a cross from the right found Keri Halliday, who volleyed in from close range.
Northern Ireland continued their quick start to the game, and in the 17th minute, Joely Andrews made it 2-0, connecting well with a cross to tuck it past Giulia D’Antuono.
In the 22nd minute, Malta had an opportunity to get a goal back, when the ball was cut back to Rachel Cuschieri, yet her effort was blocked.
D’Antuono was called into action again in the 33rd minute, when a cross was not cleared away by the Maltese defence, and the ball fell to Megan Bell, whose shot was then saved by the Maltese goalkeeper, and the subsequent rebound from Halliday was then blocked.
The home side remained dangerous going forward, and in the 42nd minute, a loose ball from the corner fell to Lauren Wade, but her shot went narrowly over the bar.
Northern Ireland made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute, when Halliday skipped past a couple of challenges from the Maltese defence, before curling a shot towards the near post, beating D’Antuono.
Malta had a golden opportunity to get a goal back in the 59th minute, when a lobbed pass from the back found Haley Bugeja, who cut inside in the penalty area, yet her left-footed strike was tipped onto the bar by Jacqueline Burns. However, Northern Ireland went up the other end, and a pass found Danielle Maxwell, who did well to lift the ball over D’Antuono, making it 4-0.
Malta pushed forward in order to get a goal, and Maria Farrugia received the ball in the penalty area in the 62nd minute, and after making a neat turn, she hit a powerful left-footed shot that was saved by Burns and tipped onto the bar again, and the ball somehow did not go in.
In the 66th minute, Malta were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Farrugia was entrusted to take it, and her effort went narrowly over the bar. Malta pushed in search of a goal, even if it would prove to be a consolation, but they could not breach the Northern Ireland defence, and the match finished 4-0 to the hosts.
The two sides will face off again on Saturday 18th April, this time on home soil, with Malta welcoming Northern Ireland at the Centenary Stadium. Kick-off is at 7pm.
Northern Ireland
1 Jacqueline Burns (GK), 2 Rebecca McKenna (C), 3 Natalie Johnson, 4 Brenna McPartlan (22 Aimee Kerr, 83’), 7 Ellie Mason, 8 Megan Bell, 10 Keri Halliday (20 Caragh Hamilton, 83’), 11 Danielle Maxwell (9 Casey Howe, 61’), 14 Lauren Wade (19 Cora Chambers, 71’), 15 Rebecca Holloway, 17 Joely Andrews
Coach: Michael McArdle
Malta
1 Giulia D’Antuono (GK), 4 Emma Lipman (C), 6 Oceane Grange, 8 Rachel Cuschieri (15 Jana Barbara, 77’), 10 Maria Farrugia, 11 Jade Flask (22 Leah Ayres, 69’), 13 Maya Lucia (2 Alexandra Gatt, 62’), 14 Shona Zammit, 17 Brenda Borg, 20 Nicole Sciberras (9 Kailey Willis, 62’), 21 Haley Bugeja
Coach: Manuela Tesse
Referee: Katarzyna Lisiecka-Sęk (POL)
