Malta ends UEFA Women's Nations League commitments with draw away to Andorra

2027 FIFA Women's World Cup - UEFA Women's Nations League - Group C2
Estadio Encamp, Andorra

ANDORRA...0
MALTA...0
(HT 0-0)

Malta ended its UEFA Women’s Nations League Group C2 campaign with a 0-0 draw against Andorra at the Estadi de la FAF in Encamp.

Following the narrow win over Cyprus which ensured promotion for Malta to League B, Coach Manuela Tesse made a number of changes.

Stephania Farrugia was back in the starting line-up after eight months on the sidelines due to an injury while Fiona Buttigieg, Rebecca Bajada, Jana Barbara, and Lexine Farrugia were also named in the starting 11. Emma Lipman, Emma Xuereb, Maya Lucia, and Shona Zammit were among the substitutes while Haley Bugeja was unavailable as she served a one-match ban.

The Maltese won Group C2 with 13 points, followed by Cyprus with 10, Georgia with 6, and Andorra with 5.

After a quiet start, the match came to life on the half hour as Stephania Farrugia’s powerful header from the left narrowly missed the post, off a long distance free kick by Rachel Cuschieri.

Three minutes later, Cuschieri made a good run down the left, but her finish was deflected by a defender with goalkeeper Alba Martin struggling to deflect the ball, leading to a quick counterattack for Andorra. Maria Ruzafa served Neus Rosas, who finished with her heel, but Rebecca Bajada cleared the danger.

In the 35th minute, Maria Farrugia delivered a corner from the right, the ball was deflected, reaching Oceane Grange whose shot from the box hit the crossbar.

Tere Morato had a close-range shot blocked after a free kick by Erica Goncalves three minutes from the end of the first half and a minute later, goalkeeper Alba Martin made a good save on a finish by Nicole Sciberras from outside the area. In added time, Stephania Farrugia headed just wide from a free kick by Cuschieri.

In the second half, a direct free kick by Lexine Farrugia, deflected by a defender, was saved by Martin. Three minutes later, the Maltese were relieved when Maria Ruzafa finished off a good move with a beautiful shot from outside the box that hit the post with goalkeeper Maya Cachia, who had replaced Janice Xuereb at the start of the second half, beaten.

10 minutes from time, Kailey Willis headed high off a cross by Rachel Cuschieri and in the dying minutes, attempts by Yulya Carella and Cuschieri were neutralised by the Andorran goalkeeper.

Andorra
23 Alba Martin (GK), 6 Tere Morato, 7 Ariana Correia (22 Emma Duro 65’), 8 Maria Da Cruz (9 Marina Muelas 90+1’), 10 Maria Ruzafa (5 Cristina Lacour 72’), 13 Erica Goncalves, 14 Laia Sole, 15 Paula Marques (2 Zoe Planaguma 72’), 18 Neus Rosas, 19 Carla Ber, 20 Laia Sin (11 Gemma Lluch 65’).
Coach: Albert Panadero Garcia

Malta
1 Janice Xuereb (12 Maya Cachia 46’) (GK), 5 Stephania Farrugia, 6 Oceane Grange, 7 Lexine Farrugia (11 Leah Alice Ayres 84’), 8 Rachel Cuschieri, 9 Kailey Willis, 10 Maria Farrugia, 15 Fiona Buttigieg (19 Yulya Carella 69’), 17 Jana Barbara (16 Charlene Zammit 69’), 20 Nicole Sciberras (14 Shona Zammit 46’), 22 Rebecca Bajada.
Coach: Manuela Tesse

Referee: Satu Miettunen (FIN)
Assistant Referees: Laura Koskinen, Jenni Paavolainen (FIN)
Fourth Official: Minka Vekkeli (FIN)
Yellow Cards: J. Barbara, K. Willis, M. Da Cruz