Superb Malta stand tall in Poland thriller

FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS GROUP G
17.11.2025
National Stadium, Ta’ Qali

MALTA…2
POLAND…3
(HT 1-1)

32’ Robert Lewandowski (POL), 36’ Irvin Cardona (MLT), 59’ Pawel Wszolek (POL), 68’ Teddy Teuma (MLT), 85’ Piotr Zielinski (POL)

Malta fell to a narrow defeat at home to Poland after a thrilling encounter at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali on Monday that went right down to the wire.

Malta started well, looking to break through the lines of the Polish backline. In the fourth minute, a nice pass found Ryan Camenzuli, who hit a low cross into the penalty area, but his attempt was blocked.

While Malta had most of the ball, Poland were looking dangerous on the counter, and in the 22nd minute, they dispossessed the Maltese midfield, but Nicola Zalewski’s shot went wide of the post.

Poland went ahead in the 32nd minute, after the away side’s captain rose highest to win a header in the penalty area, opening the scoring.

Malta responded excellently, and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. It came in the 36th minute, as a cross found Joseph Mbong, whose shot was blocked, before falling to Irvin Cardona, who slotted it into the net to level the scoring, sparking wild celebrations from the Maltese crowd. This was Malta’s first-ever goal against Poland.

Malta remained a constant threat, especially through Ilyas Chouaref. In the 42nd minute, he broke quickly for a counterattack, finding Mbong, who in turn laid it off to Alexander Satariano, yet his shot was tame and easily saved by Bartlomiej Dragowski. As a result, the two sides went into the break level at 1-1.

After the break, Poland started sharp on the ball, and they had a couple of early chances, first falling to Lewandowski, and then to Bartosz Slisz, but none of them could find the back of the net.

Poland did find the goal in the 59th minute, after shot was brilliantly blocked by the Maltese defence, yet the ball fell to Pawel Wszolek, who tucked away the rebound to restore the away side’s lead.

Malta had an excellent chance to level the scoring in the 61st minute, when Teddy Teuma slid a ball into Cardona’s path, but after cutting it back onto his left side, he was seemingly brought down in the penalty area. The action continued after that, and Poland scored, but after a long VAR check, the goal was overturned and Malta were awarded a penalty. Teuma stepped up to take it, and he made no mistake, slotting it into the net to equalise. The goal was his fifth in a Maltese shirt.

Malta could have taken the lead in the 80th minute, when the ball fell to Adam Magri Overend, who swivelled and hit a powerful shot, but it was excellently saved by Dragowski.

Poland left it late, but they got the goal, as a shot from Piotr Zielinski was deflected into the net, putting the away side in front in the closing stages.

Despite Malta’s best efforts, they could not find a way through the Polish backline, and the match ended in a 2-3 defeat.

As a result, Malta finish the group in fourth, having secured an impressive five points throughout the qualifying campaign.

Malta
1 Henry Bonello (GK), 3 Ryan Camenzuli, 4 Gabriel Mentz (19 Trent Buhagiar, 87’), 5 Kurt Shaw, 6 Matthew Guillaumier (C), 7 Joseph Mbong (17 Adam Magri Overend, 46’), 10 Teddy Teuma (13 Enrico Pepe, 77’), 11 Irvin Cardona (8 Paul Mbong, 77’), 20 Ilyas Chouaref, 22 Zach Muscat (21 Juan Corbalan, 54’), 23 Alexander Satariano
Coach: Emilio De Leo

Poland
22 Bartlomiej Dragowski, 3 Przemyslaw Wisniewski (18 Bartosz Bereszynski, 77’), 4 Tomasz Kedziora, 9 Robert Lewandowski (C), 10 Piotr Zielinski, 13 Jakub Kaminski (20 Filip Rozga, 90+1’), 14 Jakub Kiwior, 15 Pawel Wszolek (11 Kamil Grosicki, 77’), 17 Bartosz Slisz, 17 Bartosz Slisz (8 Bartosz Kaputska, 77’), 19 Michal Skoras, 21 Nicola Zalewski (7 Karol Swiderski, 46’)
Coach: Jan Urban

Referee: Igor Pajac (CRO)

Yellow cards: Przemyslaw Wisniewski (POL), Teddy Teuma (MLT), Alexander Satariano (MLT)