Malta beaten at home by Italy despite combative performance

UEFA EURO Futsal Main Round
Tal-Qroqq University Sports Hall, 11.03.2025

Malta...1
Italy...5

The Maltese National Futsal Team lost the fourth match of the Main Round of the 2026 European Championship as they were defeated by Italy 5-1 at the Tal-Qroqq University Sports Hall.

Italy immediately showed their clear intentions and took the lead through Julio de Oliveira with a low shot.

The Maltese equalised through the was youngster Collin Sammut who, after receiving from Maicon, saw his first shot saved by Dalcin before the same player slotted in the rebound.

The Maltese decided to use a flying keeper and this allowed the Italians to take advantage and score the second goal through Gabriel Motta.

In the last seconds before the end of the first half, Murilo Schiochet made it 3-1.

In the second half, the Italians remained consistent and scored the fourth goal when, after a free kick, the ball hit the post and the rebound went to Motta, who scored a personal double.

Nine minutes from time, Italy came close to scoring the fifth goal but Merlim's shot hit the crossbar.

Italy sealed the victory towards the end after Italo Rossetti lobbed a good ball over Clint Mifsud.

The Maltese National Futsal Team will now play against Finland away from home on 10th April 2025.

Malta
Clint Mifsud, Michael Borg, Mark Zammit, Maikinho, Marwan Telisi, Matthias Borg, Dylan Pace, Giancarlo Sammut, Luke Anthony Borg, Luke Gatt, Dale Valletta, Nathan Cope, Karl Schembri, Collin Sammut.

Italy
Dalcin, Italo Rosseti, Venancio, Alex Merlim, Murilo Schiochet, Jurij Bellobuono, Antonio Molaro, Enrico Donin, Julio de Oliveira, Gabriel Motta, Alessio Saponara, Lorenzo Etzi, Michele Podda, Antonino Isgro.

Referee 1 – Zyl Robert Fred Sheriff (Gibraltar)

Referee 2 – Valentin Ciuplea (Wales)

Referee 3 – Alan Patchell (Republic of Ireland)

Timekeeper – Andrea Naudi (Malta)