Malta fall to defeat in cagey affair against Croatia

Malta suffered a 3-0 defeat in the second of two international friendly matches at home to Croatia on Monday evening. The match was off to a cagey start, with both sides failing to get hold of prolonged periods of possession. Croatia had the first real opportunity of the match, as Ivana Rudelić received the ball in the penalty area, but her attempt was smartly stopped by Maya Cachia, who parried the attempt away from danger. Malta looked to respond, and in the 12th minute had their first shot on target, as Rachel Cuschieri tried her luck from long range, only for her shot to be saved by Doris Bačić. Cachia was called into action again in the 13th minute, as Karla Kurkutović made a darting run down the right wing, before attempt a shot at the near post, which the Maltese goalkeeper just about managed to tip away, before it was cleared from off the line. The Maltese goalkeeper made another brilliant stop in the 23rd minute, when Rudelić met a loose ball on the half volley, but her strike was parried away before being collected on the second attempt by Cachia. In the 36th minute, Malta worked the ball excellently through the midfield, finding Maria Farrugia, who dribbled past a couple of Croatian defenders, before slotting the ball to Cuschieri, whose left-footed shot was blocked by Bačić. Croatia broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, when a cross from the right was met by Maja Joščak, who hit a powerful header that beat Cachia, giving the visitors the advantage before the break. Just minutes after the restart, Croatia doubled their advantage. They capitalised from a loose pass in midfield, subsequently finding Rudelić, who ran through on goal, and sent Cachia the other way, tucking it into the net. The match became more of a midfield battle as the half wore on, with neither side managing to have sustained possession. Croatia extended their lead in the 75th minute, when a cross from the left wing was met first by Kurkutović, who slipped in behind from the back post to finish off the move. Malta tried to push on to get back in the match, but Croatia stood strong, and the encounter finished 3-0 to the visitors, wrapping up a testing, but fruitful international window for the Coach Manuela Tesse’s side. Malta 12 Maya Cachia (GK) (23 Patricia Ebejer, 73’), 4 Emma Lipman (C) (13 Maya Lucia, 73’), 5 Stephania Farrugia, 6 Oceane Grange, 7 Sara Saliba, 8 Rachel Cuschieri (17 Brenda Borg, 73’), 10 Maria Farrugia, 14 Shona Zammit (11 Leah Ayres, 80’), 18 Yulya Carella (9 Kailey Willis, 46’), 20 Nicole Sciberras, 22 Rebecca Bajada (3 Georgiana Mifsud, 85’) Coach: Manuela Tesse Croatia 1 Doris Bačić (GK) (C) (23 Ana Ristovski, 85’), 2 Lucia Orkić (7 Petra Mikulica, 85’), 3 Ana Jelenčić, 4 Lucija Vunić (5 Kristina Nevrkla, 80’), 6 Tea Vračević (15 Laura Vlastelica, 80’), 8 Maja Joščak (17 Paula Vidović, 76’), 9 Ivana Rudelić (11 Ivana Slipčević, 76’), 13 Helena Spajić (22 Siena Stambolic, 85’), 19 Janja Čanjevac (10 Izabela Lojna, 85’), 20 Karla Kurkutović (18 Ella Luština, 85’), 21 Barbara Živković Coach: Nenad Gračan Referee: Rapjan Xhyra Report: MFA Photo: MFA