Latvia prove too strong for Malta in UEFA European WU19 Championship opener

UEFA WOMEN'S UNDER 19 CHAMPIONSHIP
LEAGUE B - GROUP B6
25.11.2025, Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali

MALTA...1
LATVIA...5
(HT 1-1)

0-1 Anna Belova 11, 1-1 Lexine Farrugia 45+1, 1-2 Nikola Pincuka 51, 1-3 Nikola Pincuka, pen, 72, 1-4 Paula Dzene 76, 1-5 Alise Baltrusaite 86.

In a match valid in League B of the European Women’s U19 Championship 2026, Latvia Women’s U19 National Team proved too strong for Malta, as the Baltic state beat the hosts with a 5-1 scoreline. It was the first game of three encounters, with Malta facing Israel on Friday and Kazakhstan next Monday in Group B6 of this competition.

Malta created the first goal-scoring opportunity in the fourth minute when Lara May Azzopardi had a cross-shot from distance which hit the cross bar. It was Latvia who opened the score in the 11^th minute when Anna Belova, unmarked and from an ideal position, hit home with a low shot. The team of coach David Attard made a strong reaction and in added-on time of the first half, levelled matters, when captain Lexine Farrugia, who plies her trade with Roma in Italy, fired a strong shot from almost the edge of the area which gave Latvia goalie, Aleksandra Torgova, no chance.

With four goals in the second half, Latvia ran away with this opening fixture, leaving the Maltese girls shattered. Six minutes after the restart, Nikola Pincuka gave Latvia the lead, placing the ball neatly into the net from close-range. Latvia threatened again in the 69^th minute when Paula Dzene fired a strong shot from outside the box which ended just wide. Three minutes later, Latvia were awarded a penalty, duly converted by Pincuka to give Latvia a 3-1 lead.

The guests added a fourth goal four minutes later, when from a rebound, Paula Dzene placed the ball at the back of the net. The Latvian girls sealed the issue with a fifth goal on 86 minutes through a fierce shot from an ideal position by captain Alise Baltrusaite, which hit the crossbar before crossing the line. Latvia continued administering their comfortable lead throughout the end of the match.

Later today, Israel beat Kazakhstand 2-0 to start their commitments in the best possible way. On Friday, Latvia and Kazakhstan open the day at 11h, followed by the Malta against Israel game at 14h30, both at the Centenary Stadium.

Malta
Maya Muscat, Thea Ida Scicluna, Emma Sophia Flannery, Amber Galea, Francesca Bartolo, Lexine Farrugia, Nyorah Celeste, Crista Chetcuti Ganado, Suzanne Farrugia Sacco (Ema Micallef 67), Lara May Azzopardi, Stella Francalanza Coach: David Attard

Latvia
Aleksandra Torgossova, Lizete Duminja, Liva Steinberga (Marija Klementjeva 89), Alise Baltrusaite, Anna Belova, Paula Dzene (Ance Meijere), Nikola Preijere, Nikola Pincuka (Krista Ruja 85), Uma Upite, Laura Kalalse (Amber Prymark 76), Kadsandra Reina Dzene
Coach: Didzis Matiss

Referee
Araksya Saribekyan (Armenia)