UEFA WU15 Development Tournament: Malta fight back to beat Northern Ireland After Opening Penalty Shootout Loss to Lithuania

The Malta U15 women’s national team experienced a mixed start to their UEFA WU15 Development Tournament campaign at the Centenary Stadium. After an opening draw and penalty shootout defeat to Lithuania, Malta responded in style with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Northern Ireland, keeping their hopes alive ahead of Sunday’s final match against Romania.

Matchday 1: Malta 2-2 Lithuania (Lithuania win 3-1 on penalties)

Malta opened the tournament with a spirited performance but were left disappointed after losing 3-1 in a penalty shootout following a dramatic 2-2 draw in regulation time.

The home side dominated the opening stages, creating several early chances, including a ninth-minute effort from Katrina Catania, who raced clear but shot narrowly wide.

However, completely against the run of play, Lithuania took the lead in the 15th minute when Andrėja Tamošauskaitė punished a loose pass and calmly finished past Chloe Borg. The same player doubled Lithuania’s advantage in the 26th minute with a composed strike after cutting inside.

Malta refused to buckle and pulled a goal back just before halftime. Chanice Refalo’s powerful strike hit the woodwork and fell to Catania, who converted the rebound to make it 2-1.

Moments later, in stoppage time, Catania struck again with a superb solo run and finish to level the score at 2-2, sending Malta into the break with renewed belief.

The second half saw Malta continue to press, with substitute Ella Muscat causing problems down the flanks. Despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities, Malta couldn’t find a winner, and the match went to penalties.

Lithuania proved clinical from the spot, winning 3-1 to secure the extra point.

Matchday 2: Malta 2-1 Northern Ireland

Malta bounced back from their opening disappointment with a stirring comeback victory against Northern Ireland.

The visitors struck early when Aoife Conlon surged down the right flank and fired home in the fourth minute to give Northern Ireland a 1-0 lead. Malta nearly responded immediately through Ella Muscat, but her effort was denied by goalkeeper Grace Greenhill.

Northern Ireland came close to doubling their lead in the 18th minute when Conlon hit the post following a dangerous corner. Malta kept pushing but went into halftime still trailing by a single goal.

The second half saw a transformed Maltese side. Substitute Katrine Jorgensen came close with a header that rattled the crossbar before Malta finally equalized in the 61st minute. Katrina Catania made a brilliant run and, after her initial shot was saved, squared the ball for Refalo to slot home.

Just five minutes later, Malta completed the turnaround. Jorgensen powered forward through midfield and unleashed a stunning long-range strike past Greenhill to make it 2-1.

Malta controlled the closing stages and nearly added a third through Francesca Spiteri Busuttil, whose late effort was tipped wide. The hosts held firm to claim their first victory of the tournament, setting up an exciting finale against Romania.

Upcoming Fixture

• Malta vs Romania
  Sunday, 21 September 2025, 13:30 CEST
  Centenary Stadium, Malta

Match Statistics

Matchday 1: Malta 2-2 Lithuania (Lithuania win 3-1 on penalties)

• Goals:

  • Lithuania: Andrėja Tamošauskaitė (15’, 26’)

  • Malta: Katrina Catania (43’, 45+3’)

• Yellow Cards:

  • Malta: Rihanna Fava Borg (6’)

  • Lithuania: Rugilė Kamienaitė (8’), Ema Gerybaitė (2’)

• Penalty Shootout: Lithuania 3-1 Malta

Malta Line-up:
Chloe Borg (GK), Francesca Spiteri Busuttil (Nael Mifsud Lepre 46’, Elsa Polidano 69’), Chanice Refalo (Kylie Pullicino 63’), Amie Martha Portelli (C), Amy Muscat, Rihanna Fava Borg, Martina Mendez Vasquez, Elanya Mallia, Katrine Jorgensen (Ella Muscat 46’), Katrina Catania (Jodie Lewis 68’), Keziah Richard (Mikaela Vella Aquilina 83’)
Coach: Clint Tabone

Lithuania Line-up:
Monika Kriūnaitė (GK) (Eivilė Riterytė 46’), Amelija Gudmundsson (Ema Gerybaitė 69’), Adelė Baranauskaitė, Gytė Saulėnaitė (Urtė Balčiūtė 46’), Augustė Kriūnaitė (Magdalena Liachovič 46’), Viktorija Liberė, Liepa Papievytė, Audrė Lučinskaitė (Liepa Zlatkutė 46’), Andrėja Tamošauskaitė, Adrija Puškoriūtė, Rugilė Kamienaitė (Austėja Stelmokaitė 90+3’)
Coach: Domas Paulauskas

Matchday 2: Malta 2-1 Northern Ireland

• Goals:

  • Northern Ireland: Aoife Conlon (4’)

  • Malta: Chanice Refalo (61’), Katrine Jorgensen (66’)

Malta Line-up:
Mariah Chirchop (GK), Cassidy Massa (Elisa Polidano 74’), Ella Muscat (Amy Muscat 46’), Chanice Refalo (Amie Martha Portelli 74’), Ana Vassallo (Mikaela Vella Aquilina 74’), Rihanna Fava Borg, Martina Mendez Vasquez (C), Elanya Mallia, Jodie Lewis (Katrine Jorgensen 46’), Katrina Catania (Francesca Spiteri Busuttil 67’), Kylie Pullicino (Keziah Richard 46’)
Coach: Clint Tabone

Northern Ireland Line-up:
Grace Greenhill (GK), Molly Gray (Katie McKenna 76’), Eva Dunlop (Gracie Livingston 29’), Darcy Grayson, Sophia Gill, Lauren Kirkpatrick (Connie Harper 46’), Cara McVeigh (Lara Longridge 46’), Zion Donnan (C) (Leah Hepburn 46’), Aoife Conlon (Emilie Sylvester 76’), Anna Dunlop (Ella Kitson 37’), Lydia Devlin (Sophie Nelson 60’)
Coach: Stephen Graham

Malta now sit on three points after two games, knowing that a strong result against Romania could secure a positive finish to their home tournament.