The Malta Women’s Under-19 National Team fell 3–1 to Israel on Friday afternoon in their second Group B6 match of the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship, with a late surge proving insufficient against a disciplined and technically strong Israeli side.
ISRAEL…3
MALTA…1
(HT 1–0)
Goals:
42’ Maayan Ben Israel (ISR), 58’ Goren Tamar (ISR), 71’ Adee Goulden (ISR), 79’ Stella Francalanza (MLT)
Israel started the match with intensity, pressing Malta high and forcing the backline into early defensive work. Despite the pressure, goalkeeper Erika Muscat remained largely untroubled in the opening stages, dealing well with speculative attempts.
Malta gradually settled, and in the 32nd minute thought they had taken the lead. A perfectly weighted lob from Lara May Azzopardi picked out Stella Francalanza, who struck a superb volley past the Israel goalkeeper — only for the celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag.
Israel responded with increasing pressure, and Muscat was forced into an excellent save in the 37th minute when Marom Abo unleashed a powerful strike from the right. However, just before the interval, Israel made the breakthrough. Maayan Ben Israel cut in from the left and bent a well-placed shot beyond Muscat, giving her side a 1–0 lead at half-time.
The second half began quietly, with both teams struggling to create clear openings. But in the 58th minute, Israel doubled their advantage when the ball broke kindly for Goren Tamar inside the area, and she hammered her strike into the roof of the net.
Malta’s difficulties grew in the 71st minute, when Adee Goulden ghosted in at the far post to meet a cross and fired home Israel’s third goal. Moments earlier, Tamar had missed a free header, but there was no mistake this time as Israel tightened their hold on the match.
Israel continued to threaten, with Talya Mor rattling the post in the 78th minute, but Malta refused to fade. Their persistence was rewarded a minute later when Azzopardi once again unlocked the Israeli defence with a precise through-ball, allowing Francalanza to slot home and pull one back.
Malta pushed forward with renewed urgency in the closing stages, but the Israeli defence stood firm, and the final whistle confirmed a 3–1 win for the group leaders.
Malta will now look to regroup ahead of their next assignment — a crucial fixture against Kazakhstan on Monday 1st December at the Centenary Stadium, kicking off at 11:00.
Line ups
Israel
18 Lily Tzook (GK), 2 Yuval Azar, 3 Mia Shvill (4 Shira Carmeli, 82’), 5 Sofia Vodolazov (9 Talia Darah Camin, 82’), 7 Maayan Ben Israel, 10 Goren Tamar, 13 Ziv Roth Hazan (6 Tamar Arkobi, 82’), 14 Adee Goulden (C), 15 Yarden Mor (16 Noga Bernshtein, 66’), 17 Tamar Lipsicas Geva, 20 Marom Abo (8 Talya Mor, 66’)
Coach: Shlomik Dora
Malta
1 Erika Muscat (GK), 2 Thea Ida Scicluna, 3 Emma Sophia Flannery, 4 Amber Galea, 5 Francesca Bartolo, 6 Ema Micallef (18 Shana Farrugia, 75’), 7 Lexine Farrugia (C) (20 Lisa Calleja, 46’), 13 Crista Chetcuti Ganado, 15 Suzanne Farrugia Sacco (11 Thais Muscat, 65’), 17 Lara May Azzopardi, 19 Stella Francalanza
Coach: David Attard
Referee: Marina Živković (SRB)
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
Leave a Reply