Jake Grech scorcher seals stunning Malta triumph over Finland

FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS GROUP G
14.11.2025, Olympic Stadium, Helsinki

FINLAND…0
MALTA…1
(HT 0-0)

82' Jake Grech (MLT)

Earlier tonight, in cold Helsinki with temperatures around the freezing point, Malta beat Finland thanks to a late solitary goal by Jake Grech, defying the odds to register the first win in this World Cup qualification group. It was a hard-earned triump for the Maltese, who played a disciplined game, executing the tactical plan into perfection. Malta had some uneasy moments with the Finns missing a few good chances, with Henry Bonello keeping the guests into the game with a series of excellent interferences.

No surprises in the starting line-up of national team coach Emilio De Leo. Compared with the last competitive outing against The Netherlands last month in the same World Cup qualifying group, Zach Muscat and Paul Mbong returned instead of the suspended duo of Ryan Camenzuli and Teddy Teuma.

In the third minute, Malta somehow avoided an early Finnish opener when Benjamin Kallmann kicked against the post from close-range from an assist by debutant Ryan Mahuta, with Henry Bonello blocking the rebound of captain Joel Pohjanpalo.  

It proved to be the only anxious moment for Malta during the first half hour, as the guests bravely shared the exchanges against the tough tackling Finns by pressing deep into their half. However, out of the blue, Pohjanpalo nearly found the net at the first post on 34 minutes from an Oliver Antman cross. Barely a minute later, Bonello performed a great save on an attempt by Antman from just outside the six-yard box which the Hamrun Spartans goalkeeper turned into a corner with a great reflex.

After the change of ends, the hosts patiently continued to chose their moments with some slick moves ahead, which were however quite comfortably halted by the Maltese rear-guard. On 53 minutes, Bonello was called back into action, turning a Kallmann shot stylish into a corner.  Three minutes later, Bonello came to the rescue once more with a wonderful reflex on a Leo Walta scorcher, perhaps the best chance for the hosts up to that point.

On 67 minutes there was a wonderful attack by Malta with the Finnish defence turning the attempt of Alex Satariano into a corner. Four minutes later on the other side, Bonello made another fine save on an Antman on target attempt. The hosts came close again on 77 minutes when the unmarked substitute Robin Lod failed to find target with Enrico Pepe turning his shot into a corner.

With eight minutes regular time left, Malta scored the winner. Ilyas Chouaref produced one of his fine dribbles on the left flank, laying off to substitute Jake Grech who perfectly executed from the edge of the area in the left corner, giving Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo no chance. The Maltese managed to survive the late rally of Finland to record only the fourth ever World Cup qualification victory after two similar 0-1 away wins against Estonia (1993) and Armenia (2013), plus the 3-0 home victory over Cyprus four years ago.

In this qualification group, Malta have now leapfrogged Lithuania in the ranking of Group G of the European qualifiers, having gained five points against three of the Lithuanians, who play The Netherlands in Amsterdam in their last match on Monday. On the same evening, Malta will host Poland at Ta’ Qali to round up the qualification sequence.

Finland
Viljami Sinisalo, Juho Lahteenmaki, Ville Koski, Miro Tenho, Ryan Mahuta (Oiva Jukkola 73), Kaan Kairinen, Adam Markhiyev (Nathan Skytta 73), Leo Walta, Oliver Antman (Topi Keskinen 78), Joel Pohjanpalo (Robin Lod 61), Benjamin Kallmann (Teemu Pukki 78).
Coach: Jacob Friis

Malta
Henry Bonello, Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe (Jean Borg 88), Zach Muscat (Gabriel Mentz 78), Juan Corbalan, Joseph Mbong (Jamie Magri Overend 65), Matthew Guillaumier, Alex Satariano, Ilyas Chouaref, Paul Mbong (Jake Grech 78), Irvin Cardona (Andrea Zammit 88)
Coach: Emilio De Leo

Referee
Julian Weinberger (Austria)