The Malta National Team earned their first victory of the year, defeating San Marino 3-1 in an international friendly at the National Stadium, Ta’ Qali. Following a positive 1-1 World Cup qualifier draw away to Lithuania last Thursday, Malta built on that performance with a dominant first-half display, scoring all three goals before the break.
Coach Emilio De Leo made two changes from the lineup that faced Lithuania. Juan Corbalan replaced Myles Beerman at left back, while Matthew Guillaumier, returning from suspension, started in place of Brandon Paiber. Guillaumier also captained the side on the night. The game featured the return of Yannick Yankam, Kemar Reid, and Jean Borg, while Kean Scicluna (Żabbar St Patrick) made his debut late in the match. However, there was also disappointment as striker Irvin Cardona was sent off in the first half, ruling him out of Malta’s next World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands.
Malta started brightly and took the lead after just five minutes. Cardona produced a superb solo run, shrugging off his marker before unleashing a low, unstoppable strike from 20 meters to claim his first international goal in only his second appearance for Malta.
By the 11th minute, Malta doubled their advantage. Ilyas Chouaref caused trouble in the San Marino box, and after the visitors failed to clear properly, Cardona teed up Guillaumier, whose shot deflected off Zach Muscat and into the net. Chouaref nearly added a third with a free-kick on 23 minutes, but San Marino goalkeeper Eduardo Colombo produced a sharp save.
The third goal arrived in the 34th minute. Muscat released Paul Mbong down the right flank, and the young winger used his pace to outmaneuver his marker before calmly slotting past Colombo to make it 3-0. Moments later, Alex Satariano surged through the middle and played in Mbong again, but Colombo saved well to keep the scoreline intact.
Tempers boiled over in the 43rd minute when Cardona clashed with Filippo Berardi, with both players sent off after the referee restored order. Just before halftime, San Marino pulled one back from the penalty spot after Satariano fouled Andrea Contadini. Nicola Nanni converted confidently, sending the teams into the break with Malta leading 3-1.
The second half was quieter, with both teams making several substitutions. Malta came close to extending their lead through Chouaref eight minutes after the restart, but his tight-angle shot went just wide. In the 68th minute, Chouaref combined well with Adam Magri Overend to set up Kemar Reid, but Reid lost his footing before getting the shot away. Moments later, Bonello was called into action, producing a vital save to deny Lorenzo Capicchioni, who found himself one-on-one.
Chouaref remained Malta’s biggest threat and came close again in the 72nd minute, racing past his defender only for Colombo to turn his effort into a corner. Magri Overend nearly capped off the night late on, but his 88th-minute strike skimmed past the far post.
With this morale-boosting victory, Malta now turns its focus to October 9, when they host the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifier, followed by a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina three days later, both at Ta’ Qali.
Match Stats
Friendly International Match
Date: 09.09.2025
Venue: National Stadium, Ta’ Qali
Final Score:
Malta 3 – 1 San Marino
(HT 3-1)
Goals:
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1-0 Cardona (MLT) 5’
-
2-0 Muscat (MLT) 11’
-
3-0 P. Mbong (MLT) 34’
-
3-1 Nanni (SMR, pen) 45+2’
Malta Line-up:
Henry Bonello, Kurt Shaw, Zach Muscat (Myles Beerman 73’), Enrico Pepe (Jean Borg 46’), Juan Corbalan (Kean Scicluna 86’), Joseph Mbong (Adam Magri Overend 64’), Matthew Guillaumier (C), Alex Satariano (Yannick Yankam 64’), Ilyas Chouaref, Paul Mbong (Kemar Reid 64’), Irvin Cardona.
Coach: Emilio De Leo
San Marino Line-up:
Eduardo Colombo, Alessandro Tosi (Marino Salicioni 58’), Filippo Fabri (Marco Pasolini 46’), Michele Cevoli (Giacomo Valentini 58’), Simone Giocondi, Samuele Zannoni, Lorenzo Capicchioni (Matteo Valli Casadei 75’), Marcelo Mularoni (Alberto Riccardi 58’), Filippo Berardi, Andrea Contadini, Nicola Nanni (Nicolas Giacopetti 66’).
Coach: Roberto Cevoli
Referee: Andrei Chivulete (Romania)
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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