Much-improved Malta denied victory by late penalty

FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS GROUP G
04.09.2025, Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas, Kaunas

LITHUANIA…1
MALTA…1
(HT 0-0)

0-1 Satariano 83, 1-1 Gineitis, pen, 90+7.

Earlier on this evening, a spirited Malta display was not enough to bring the three points back home with the team conceding a questionable stoppage time spot-kick. When Alex Satariano kicked home in the roof of the net late in the game, Malta were close to an upset, which would have been a deserved three points after a positive game. However, a soft penalty seven minutes into stoppage time ruined the night, against a below-par Lithuanian side who did create some opportunities but never impressed.

Malta played a constructive match and most definitely improved when compared to the games played in the first part of the year. With Matthew Guillaumier out suspended and, on top of that, James Carrragher and playmaker Teddy Teuma unavailable due to injury, Malta coach Emilio De Leo had to reshuffle his starting formation. In fact, with Henry Bonello, Satariano and the Mbong brothers, only four starters of Malta’s last outing against The Netherlands kept their place. Irvin Cardona, the French born striker of St Etienne who recently confirmed his availability for Malta, made his debut for Malta, one of six foreign-based Maltese in the starting line-up.

Bonello was called into action as early as the third minute, blocking an on-target attempt by Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, who was somehow given a free entrance into the box with the Hamrun Spartans goalkeeper avoiding an early goal.

In the 19^th minute, Ilyas Chouaref nearly took advantage of a defensive error by the hosts, but Klaudijus Upstas somehow managed to clear the ball in extremis on the edge of the box with the referee in charge eventually whistling for a foul. Just after the half-hour mark, Bonello was on the alert once more by parading a direct Gineitis free-kick. Two minutes later, from another promising Malta attack, Joseph Mbong’s effort from just outside the area sailed wide.

On 36 minutes, Edvinas Gertmonas did well to block a Paul Mbong grounder, with the Lithuanian goalkeeper also interfering in time on a Satariano header in the rebound with Enrico Pepe blasting high. Towards the end of the first half, both sides created a few more opportunities but the half remained goalless.

Although the encounter remained balanced in the second period, Malta created the best opportunities. Four minutes after the change of ends, Satariano’s fine curled shot sailed millimetres over the crossbar, an effort which certainly deserved better.

On 72 minutes, after a topsy-turvy period, Malta created another wonderful opportunity when Cardona, who never stopped running, set up Chouaref, who sent through Joseph Mbong, crossing towards the unmarked Satariano on the edge of the six-yard box, who failed to give the right direction to the ball with the Lithuanian rear-guard eventually clearing. In the immediate phase that followed, Malta forced out a few corners with again Satariano coming close to break the deadlock.

But seven minutes before the end of regular time, Malta hit target. From a swift counter-attack set-up by the outstanding Chouaref, Adam Magri Overend found Satariano who, positioned a few meters before the goal-line, had the easiest of task to find the net with the Lithuanian goalkeeper dispositioned. A most deserved lead for the guests with Malta now close to a fourth World Cup qualifier victory.

One minute into stoppage time, Malta had to continue with ten players as substitute Jake Azzopardi was given a direct red card after a lengthy VAR intervention for a foul on Jankauskas, a harsh decision. Things turned for the worse as, with a precious away win in sight, Malta conceded a penalty when captain Zach Muscat, from a corner action, allegedly held Edgardas Utkus in the box, a decision which was confirmed after the VAR check. Bonello had a hand on the Gineitis’ 11-meter attempt but the ball ended against the net.

Also the hosts finished the match with ten as Utkus elbowed Shaw in the dying minutes, being given his second yellow of the night. With the Maltese visibly disappointed at the final whistle, the team returns home to play a Friendly next Tuesday against San Marino at the National Stadium, kick off 21h.


Lithuania
Edvinas Gertmonas, Klaudijus Upstas (Tomas Kalinauskas 68), Edvinas Girdvainis, Edgardas Utkus, Artemijus Tutyskinas, Justas Lasickas, Modestas Vorobjovas (Romualdas Jansonas 76), Gratas Sirgedas (Paulius Golubickas 68), Gvidas Gineitis, Artur Dolznikov (Eligijus Jankauskas 46), Gytis Paulauskas.
Coach: Edgardas Jankauskas

Malta
Henry Bonello, Kurt Shaw, Zach Muscat Enrico Pepe, Myles Beerman (Juan Corbalan 46), Joseph Mbong (Adam Magri Overend 74), Brandon Paiber (Jake Grech 64), Alex Satariano, Ilyas Chouaref, Paul Mbong (Jodi Jones 74), Irvin Cardona (Jake Azzopardi 86).
Coach: Emilio De Leo

Referee
Giorgi Kruashvili (Georgia)

Red cards
Azzopardi 90+1, Urkus 90+9

Yellow cards
Tutyskinas, Dolznikov, Vorobjovas, Utkus (L); Satariano, P.Mbong, Shaw, Beerman, Muscat, Grech.

Attendance
7854

Images copyright by Andre Farrugia